%0 Journal Article
%T Research: POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF COUNSELING IN RELIEVING MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS
%A Vandita Kakkar
%A Darshanjot Kaur
%A Indu Pal Kaur*
%J Pharmacie Globale : International Journal of Comprehensive Pharmacy
%D 2012
%I 
%X The objective of current research is ameliorating the awareness of menopausal women in a northern suburban population of India (Chandigarh). Further, combined effect of drug therapy and exhaustive counseling vs. drug therapy and routine counseling, using standardized menopause rating scale (MRS), in improving the condition of the menopausal women was evaluated. A special menopause clinic and a bone mineral density (BMD) camp was organized in collaboration with a gynaecologist at a private Gynecological Clinic. A presentation on menopause and its management with the available non-pharmacological options of treatment was elucidated to all the women enrolled for the camp (n=208). These women were administered an 11 item questionnaire of the standard menopause rating scale (MRS) and those scoring > 16 on the MRS scale, with an individual psychological (P)/ somatic (S) score > 7 were selected for the present study. These women were divided randomly into two groups: one of which was subjected to exhaustive verbal counseling (treatment group); n=66, the other acted as control (n=29). The educated women in both the groups were handed over the information booklet on menopause. The independent effect of this information booklet on the % improvement in the awareness index (about the transition) was also evaluated in a small population group (n=17). A calcium diet chart along with instructions for a 1200 calorie diet was provided to every patient. An interaction session was held with the treatment group patients to resolve the queries and misconceptions about their state. The counseled patients were advised for follow up visits every 2 months for a total duration of 6 months, and improvement if any in their condition in terms of MRS was evaluated at the end of the study. Out of the counseled group (treatment group) patients there was a total drop out of 50% of the subjects (at one of the subsequent follow up visits), and the study was proceeded with the follow up patient group (n=33). Patients who did not turn up for the successive follow ups were contacted by telephone if possible. The results indicated a statistically significant (p>0.001) improvement in psychological (depression, irritability and anxiety), somatic (vasomotor) and urogenital symptoms as an effect of exhaustive counseling. An improved compliance and a positive attitude achieved upon counseling were probably responsible for a lowering of the MRS score of counseled women.
%K Pharmacist
%K Counseling. Menopause
%K Psychological
%K somatic
%K urogenital
%U http://pharmacie-globale.info/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=258&tmpl=component&format=raw&Itemid=41