Assessment of Questionnaire Measuring Quality of Life in Menopausal Women: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Menopause is a natural part of the aging process in women and is defined as occurring 12 months after the last menstrual period marking the end of menstrual cycles. Menopause has a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL). Various generic and specific questionnaires have been used for assessing different dimensions of QoL in menopausal women. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify those general and specific instruments, and to determine the factors that affect QoL in menopausal women. We assessed eight specific and three general tools and found that some general and specific instruments, such as the 36-item short form (SF-36) and the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), were mostly used for assessment. The specific tools available were diverse. Employment status and a high educational level in menopausal women were considered to be protective factors in improving QoL. Identification of predicting factors of QoL, such as body mass index, race, age, duration of menopause, and social and occupational variables can help to improve the QoL of these women allowing planning of psychological consultations and practical interventions.

Quality of Life after Menopause in Pakistani Women

“…The other commonly used scales include 36-item short-form (SF-36), World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Utain Quality of Life Scale (UQOL), Woman's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and Greene Climacteric Scale. However in a systematic review by Jenabi et al, MenQol was found to be most validated and most commonly used scale in literature and this is the same scale we have used in our study [10].…”

“…menopausal symptoms, as experienced over the last month: vasomotor (items 1-3), psychosocial (items 4-10), physical (items 11-26), and sexual (items 27-29). Items pertaining to a specific symptom are rated as present or not present, and if present, how bothersome on a zero (not bothersome) to six (extremely bothersome) scale [10]. All the data were noted on the proforma.…”

Evaluación de la calidad de vida en climatéricas con la Escala Cervantes. Influencia de la etnia

“…Calidad de vida (CV) es un concepto multidimensional y multifactorial cuyo rol como indicador ha emergido con importancia en el área de la salud (1,2) . Durante el climaterio, algunas mujeres experimentan un conjunto de síntomas relacionados con la menopausia que afectan negativamente la CV: oleadas de calor, sudores nocturnos, alteraciones del sueño, cansancio, sequedad vaginal y depresión, entre otros (2) .…”

“…Durante el climaterio, algunas mujeres experimentan un conjunto de síntomas relacionados con la menopausia que afectan negativamente la CV: oleadas de calor, sudores nocturnos, alteraciones del sueño, cansancio, sequedad vaginal y depresión, entre otros (2) .…”

“…Para evaluar el deterioro de la CV y la severidad de los síntomas relacionados con la menopausia se han diseñado varias escalas: Menopause Speci- (2) . La EC es un instrumento diseñado en castellano con el propósito de valorar la CV en mujeres de mediana edad, y ha sido aplicada en poblaciones de América Latina (3,4) .…”