The effect of a midwife-led education program on menopause symptom severity and menopause-specific quality of life: a randomized controlled longitudinal study

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured midwife-led education program on the severity of menopausal symptoms and menopause-specific quality of life, and to assess the sustainability of this effect over time. Method: This randomized controlled longitudinal study included 101 women (intervention=51, control=50) aged 45-55 who were in the natural menopausal process. Participants in the intervention group received a structured education program over four weeks, whereas the control group received only routine follow-up. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. Evaluations were performed at three time points: before the intervention, immediately after the education program, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results: After the program, the intervention group had a mean MENQOL posttest score of 111.25±32.51, compared with 173.06±3.31 in the control group, showing a significant difference ( P <0.001). The intervention group’s posttest mean scores for all MENQOL subscales were also significantly lower than those of the control group ( P <0.001). In addition, MENQOL scores in the intervention group decreased over time, indicating an improvement in quality of life ( P <0.05). Conclusion: The structured menopause education program delivered under midwife guidance was identified as an effective and sustainable intervention for reducing the severity of menopausal symptoms and enhancing women’s quality of life.