Effects of health education and progressive muscle relaxation on vasomotor symptoms and insomnia in perimenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the effects of health education (HE) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), individually or combined, on vasomotor symptoms and insomnia in perimenopausal women. MethodsThis study is a single-center, pretest-posttest, randomized controlled trial with a factorial design. The research sample consists of 108 women who were randomly divided into three groups: HE + PMR group (n = 36), PMR group (n = 36) and control group (n = 36). 90 women completed the study. The data were collected in three steps by using instruments of Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale and a diary for vasomotor symptoms, Women’s Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale. ResultsHot flash and night sweats frequency and severity scores/24 h, the VAS scores for hot flashes and night sweats, and the WHIIRS scores significantly improved more in the intervention groups compared to the control group (p < 0,05). Compared to the group PMR, the group PMR + HE had a greater improvement with larger effect size in all measurements. ConclusionsPMR and HE counseling by nurses benefit perimenopausal women who suffer from insomnia and vasomotor symptoms. Practice implicationsPMR combined with HE or PMR alone is effective in managing vasomotor symptoms and insomnia; therefore, they can easily be integrated into clinical practice.