Comparison of the effect of face-to-face and virtual group training on the quality of life of postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: The present study was conducted with the aim of determining and comparing the effect of face-to-face and virtual group training on the quality of life of postmenopausal women. Materials and methods: In this randomized controlled trial study, 96 postmenopausal women covered by the health service centers of Isfahan city were randomly assigned to two groups of face-to-face training and virtual training (48 people). The data collection tools included the questionnaire of demographic characteristics and the quality of life of postmenopausal women questionnaire. Face-to-face training sessions were held one day a week for 4 weeks. In the virtual training, video, audio and text, was placed in the WhatsApp group weekly for 4 weeks. Data were collected before the intervention and 4 weeks after the intervention and analyzed in SPSS software with the help of descriptive and analytical tests. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered. Results: The results showed that in both face-to-face and virtual training groups, the mean scores of the total quality of life and in the areas of vasomotor symptoms, physical symptoms, psycho-social symptoms and sexual dysfunction decreased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001). After the intervention, the mean quality of life scores between the two groups did not show a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of both face-to-face training and virtual training on improving the quality of life in menopausal women, the use of both types of training methods can be suggested in care and support programs for women during menopause.