The Perimenopause Questionnaire
towusu - Mon, 07/09/2012 - 02:19
Project title:
The Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Injury System
Project Number:
H133N000001
Tool type:
Questionnaire
Tool class:
Nonengineering tool
Disability targeted:
Spinal cord injury
Study target:
Women with spinal cord injury (SCI) in perimenopause
Study purpose or goal:
To determine the type and severity of perimenopause symptoms, and treatments utilized both conventional and alternative
Who administers this tool?:
Participants
Ease of use:
Easy
Time to complete:
10 minutes
Equipment required:
none
Are any approvals required?:
IRB
How is it administered?:
The questionnaire was mailed to participants along with a consent form. Both were returned by mail. Nonrespondents were interviewd by telephone. All data was kept in locked database
What is the scope or what areas does it cover?:
This questionnaire was developed from existing questionnaires and modified specifically for SCI.
Development background:
Existing research and questionnaires on both menopause and perimenompause were reviewed in the development of this tool
Development methodology:
The questions and methodology were selected based on previously developed questionnaires and modified for SCI
Outside consultation:
Consultations were made with gynecologists
Consumer input:
The questionnaire was reviewed by staff members with SCI
Can this development process be used elsewhere?:
The questions and methodology were selected based on previously developed questionnaires and modified for SCI
Can this tool be used for other purposes/populations?:
This questionnaire was developed from existing questionnaires and modified specifically for SCI.
Data analysis:
Is complete
Limitations:
The questionnaire does not ask about somatic issues.
Findings:
Data analysis was complete and in press at the time of the interview. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with some comparisons of means. Most participants reported at least one symptom. 26% had no symptoms. There was no difference in age of first report between levels of SCI. Most frequently reported symptom was change in menses followed by sleep disturbance, night sweats, and change in sex drive.
Interpretations:
These results are not markedly different from the general population. Sleep disturbance had the highest severity score, change in menses had lowest. Women with paraplegia experienced more heart palpitations than those with tetraplegia. Women with incomplete SCI rated night sweats greater. Hormonal/herbal treatment use was no different from that of the general population. Some symptoms of perimenopause are masked by SCI
Implications:
Specific
Impact of these findings on the field:
The questionnaire and resulting data highlight the need for increased vigilance of these symptoms by women with SCI as they may be masked
Peer review status:
The survey and its results are in press in the journal of the Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (ASCIN). In addition, they have been presented at ASCIN and National Spinal Cord Injury Association conferences
Who uses the collected data?:
Health professionals, especially nurses
Tool contact:
Gale G. Whiteneck, PhD
Email:
susie@craighospital.org
Phone:
303/789-8204 (V), 303/789-8575 (TTY)
Keywords:
