The effect of online education and counseling on attitudes and anxiety levels of women regarding gynecological examination

Objective: This research was carried out to determine the effect of online education and counseling on women's attitudes and anxiety levels towards gynecological examination. Material and Methods: The pretest-posttest, randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with 100 women (experimental: 50 and control: 50) who applied to Aydın Adnan Menderes University Hospital Gynecology Outpatient Clinic. Data were collected from June 2021 to September 2022. The pre-test questionnaire was first applied to the women. The experimental group received training within the next ten days and counseling for six months. Participants were asked to fill in the post-test questionnaire face-to-face in the first 3 months and the post-test form in the 6th month online. The study was completed with 68 participants (experimental: 37 and control: 31). The data were collected with a questionnaire prepared by the researchers and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square, Fisher exact chi-square, Student-t and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in the analysis of the data. Results: There was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of sociodemographic, obstetric and gynecological histories, attitudes towards gynecological examination, and state and trait anxiety before training and counseling. When the attitudes towards the gynecological examination after training and counseling were examined, it was determined that the control group had a higher rate of examination only when there was a complaint, than the experimental group. It was determined that most of the experimental group did not feel uncomfortable with the gynecological examination position and did not think that it would hurt during the examination. It was determined that the experimental group felt more comfortable when the instruments to be used were shown, than the control group. Before the training and counseling, the state anxiety score of both groups was moderate. In the analysis performed in the first 3 months after training and counseling, a significant difference was found between the state anxiety score averages of both groups. It was observed that the anxiety score of the experimental group decreased from moderate to mild. After the training and counseling (first 3 months and 6 months), there was no significant difference between the trait anxiety score averages of both groups. Conclusion: It was observed that online education and counseling were significantly effective on attitudes and state anxiety of women towards gynecological examination.