INTRODUCTION:

Strange as it may seem, the family roles have not changed much in today’s society. While girls and women (not only Polish) have more opportunities in home-based employment, the traditional roles of women are still quite evident. They are still the caring provider and nurturer of young infants and children, the comforter for the crying child and the feminine presence of the household. While the husband’s role has diversified into more household chores and the cooking and cleaning up responsibilities, they are still considered the head of the household¹. Each women experiences her own variation of typical symptoms of menopause. Some studies even suggest that signs and symptoms of menopause may vary between cultural groups for example upto 80% of American women experience hot flushes during menopause while only 10% of Japanese women experience that symptoms². Approximately 2/3 of women who reach menopause develop menopausal symptoms, primary hot flushes³. The North American Menopause Society has held an Annual Scientific Meeting on 2019,it is considered to be the leading medical conference dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond.meeting, with the theme of NAMS at 30, making Menopause Mainstream, is sure to provide you with comprehensive and exciting updates on today’s most relevant issues relating to menopause and midlife women’s health⁴. Testosterone for Women at Midlife - World Menopause Day 2019 “There is good evidence that testosterone therapy can help alleviate hypoactive sexual desire disorder/dysfunction in post-menopausal women” reported Australasian Menopause Society President, Dr Sonia Davison. “However, each woman needs a full clinical assessment and other factors affecting HSSD need to be identified and addressed before testosterone therapy is initiated”⁵. The Indian Menopause Society (IMS) is a multidisciplinary national society. It is committed to fostering the comprehensive well-being of the mature & elderly Indian women. The society provides a common forum for medical and other interested health professionals and people from all walks of life to work towards the goals of the society⁶. Three studies led by veterinary bioscience Professor Jodi Flaws, are part of the five year research effort. “Even though more than 40 million women experiences hot flushes each year”. The authors wrote in their paper, “Little is known about the factors that the dispose women to hot flashes⁷.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the demographic variables for the women with in the age group of 45 - 55 years.

2. To assess the pretest knowledge and practice regarding alternative remedies for menopausal symptoms among women with in the age group of 45 to 55 years in experimental and control group.

3. To evaluate the post test knowledge & practice regarding alternative remedies for menopausal symptoms among experimental and control group.

4. To compare pre and post test knowledge and practice scores of alternative remedies among experimental group and control group.

5. To compare post test knowledge & practice of alternative remedies for menopausal symptoms between experimental and control group.

6. To find association of post test knowledge & practice scores of alternative remedies among in experimental group with selected demographic variables.

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁. The mean post test knowledge score of the experimental group will be significantly higher than the mean pre test score.

H₂. The mean post test score of practice will be significantly higher than the mean score of pretest score.

H₃. There will be significant association between the post test knowledge and practice score of mother with demographic variables in experimental group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The research design adopted for the present study was true experimental design. Population was women with in the age group of 45-55 years. The sample for the study consist of 60 women.

CRITERIA FOR SAMPLE SELECTION:

INVLUSION CRITERIA:

1. The women with in the age group of 45 - 55 years.

2. The women who are available during data collection.

3. The women who knows Tamil.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

1. The women having regular menstruation.

2. The women who are seriously ill.

3. The women who have undergone hysterectomy.

4. The women who don’t know Tamil.

The instrument consisted of 3 sections.

· SECTION I -Demographic variables

· SECTION II- Structure interview schedule

· SECTION III-Structured observation check list

SECTION I

Interviews schedule demographic data of the instrument was not scored.

SECTION II

Structure interview schedule. The multiple choice questions were used to assess the knowledge regarding alternative remedies for menopausal symptoms. For right answer is scored 1 and wrong answer is scored 0.

Tab:1 Knowledge Score

Level of knowledge	Score	Percentage (%)
Inadequate	0-8	33%
Moderately Adequate	9-16	34-66%
Adequate	17-25	67-100%

SECTION III

Structured observation check list. This is an observation check list which helps to assess the practice regarding alternative remedies for menopausal symptoms. It consisted of 15 items. There were alternate columns with “yes” or “No”. A score of one (1) allotted to the response “yes” and Zero (0) to the response “No”. The total score was 15.

Tab:2 Practice scores

Level of practice	Score	Percentage (%)
In adequate	0-5	0-33%
Moderately adequate	6-10	34-66%
Adequate	11-15	67-100%

VALIDITY:

The validity of the tool was established in consultation with five experts in the field of obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine.

RELIABILITY:

The test retest method were the Karl Pearson coefficient formula was used to find out the reliability of the tool and found reliable (r = 0.69). The reliability coefficient for the structured observation check list was found to be 0.7 which was considered to be reliable.

PROTECTING OF HUMAN SUBJECTS:

The research proposal was approved by the dissertation committee prior to conducting the pilot study and the main study. Verbal consent was got from the mothers. The information was kept confidential.

MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY:

Collected data were tabulated and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.

Description of demographic characteristics sample:

Highest percentage of women in experimental group (60%) were in the age group of 45 – 50 years and more or less similar percentage in (53%) of women in control group were in the same age group. Highest percentage of women (63% and 54%) are married in experimental and control group. Around one third of women in experimental group (43%) had primary school education similarly 57% of women in control group were no formal education respectively. Around one third of total number of women in experimental group (40%) were daily wages more or less 37% of women in control group were dependent / unemployed. Majority of women (67% and 53%) in experimental and control group were Hindus.Highest percentage of women in experimental (70%) and control (73%) group were in the income group of Rs. 1001 1500. Most of the women in experimental (80%) and control (83%) group were inform joint family. Most of the women in experimental (70%) and in control (73%) group were attained menopause.

Percentage distribution of women in experimental and control group according to their menopausal state reveals that 73% of woman in control group were attained menopause similarly 70% were in experimental group. It shows that majority of women are attained menopause in experimental and control group.

Percentage distribution of women in experimental group during pre and post test reveals that majority of women had inadequate knowledge (77%) during pre-test and 67% of women had inadequate knowledge post test. It shows that majority of the women had adequate knowledge.

Percentage distribution of women in experimental group during pre and post test reveals that the highest (80%) of women had inadequate practice during pre test and (60%) of women had adequate practice during post test. It shows that majority of the women had adequate practice during post test.

Percentage distribution of women in experimental and control group during post test reveals that majority (67%) had inadequate knowledge and (83%) of women had adequate knowledge during post test respectively.

It shows that the majority in control group had inadequate knowledge during post test.

Percentage distribution of women in experimental and control group during post test reveals that majority (60%) of women in experimental group had adequate practice and (77%) of women in control group had inadequate practice during post test respectively. It shows that majority of women from experimental group had adequate practice.

Comparison of mean, SD and Mean percentage of pretest knowledge scores of women with in the age group of 45 – 55 years regarding alternative remedies for menopausal symptoms in Experimental and control group.

Tab:1 Comparison of level of knowledge in experimental and control group during pre-test.

Level of Knowledge	Experimental group pre test			Control Group PreTest
Level of Knowledge	Mean	SD	Mean %	Mean	SD	Mean %
Inadequate knowledge	6.56	1.09	16.7	5.9	0.76	12.8
Moderately adequate	10.2	1.03	10.0	9.25	0.43	4.6
Adequate Knowledge	-	-	-	-	-	-

Conclusion:

From the findings of the study it can be concluded that highest percentage of women in experimental and control group were in the age group of 45 50 years, married had primary school education, getting daily wages and they are Hindus, from joint family and attained menopause. Over all percentage of knowledge and practice score was similar the women in experimental and control group during pre-test. Over all percentage of post test knowledge and practice scores was higher in experimental group and was similar in control group. Based on pre and post test assessment it was found that structure teaching programme was effective for women with in the age group 45 55 years to gain in knowledge and practice level. There is significant difference between experimental and control group in post test and significant difference was found between pre and post test knowledge and practice level in experimental group (P < 0.01) significant association was found in knowledge and practice scores in experimental group during post test when compared to age, education and menopausal state.

Implications:

The findings of the study have certain important implications for the nursing service, education administrations and nursing research.

Nursing Service:

Nurse as a organizer, leader, educator, counselees, motivation, supervisor and team member in various situation of work. Health education may be given to care gives regarding alternative remedies i.e. diet and nutrition exercise based on their previous level of knowledge.The findings of the study enlighten the fact the alternative remedies can be used to reduce the further complication due to menopause like cardiovascular disorder and osteoporosis.Health promotion is a vital function of the nurse and nurse can be use this measures to educate the women.

Nursing Education:

This study findings reveals that reveals that alternative remedies like good nutrition and exercise are effective in reducing the further complications due to menopause and diet contains phytoestrogen are playing essential role in maintaining the estrogen balance after menopause. To practice this, the nursing personnel need to be equipped with adequate knowledge and practice regarding alternative remedies. The findings can be utilized to organize in service education programme for community health nurse and can grate awareness regarding alternative remedies for menopausal symptoms.

Nursing Research:

This study can be baseline for further studies to build upon. This study can be conduct in various aspects other than diet and exercise.

Nursing Administration:

The findings of the present study will help nurses as administrates to organize and plan for various programme to prepare audio visual aids and pamplets for effective health education.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Similar study can be conduct in various aspects like yoga, meditation, ayrvedha. The effectiveness of these measures during menopause. The comparative study can also be done to assess the effectiveness of alternative remedies the women who attained menopause and not attained menopause.

REFERENCE:

1. Arunkumar, (2005). Current Issues in Obstetrics and Gynecology, (Ist edition). Singapore, The National University.

2. Leifer Gloria, (I2004) Maternity Nursing (9^th edition) Missouri: Elesevier Saunders

3. Bhatt RV, et.al (2007), Psychosocial Problems Around Menopause International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics India.10(1)

4. https://wwwnelsonh@hsu.edu.

5. https://www.mediniche.com/hotflashes.html

6. https://www.mdedge.com/obgyn/conferences/nams-north-american-menopause-society

7. https://indianmenopausesociety.org/

Received on 20.02.2020 Modified on 12.03.2020

Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2020; 8(2):157-161.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2020.00037.2