The effect of symptom management program developed based on story theory on vasomotor symptoms and sleep quality in postmenoposal women

Aim: The aim of the study is to examine the effect of the Symptom Management Program Developed Based on Story Theory on vasomotor symptoms and sleep quality in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: The type of this research is mixed method, and an intervention design, one of the advanced mixed method designs, was used. In the quantitative dimension of the research, a randomized single-blind pretest-posttest control group experimental research was used, and in the qualitative dimension, a descriptive phenomenological research method was used. The population of the research consists of postmenopausal women who applied to five Family Health Centers and met the inclusion criteria. A total of 76 women, 38 women in the experimental and control groups, were included in the sample. Online program was applied individually to the women in the experimental group. Personal Information Form, Menopause Symptoms Assessment Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Story Theory Based Semi-Structured Interview Form were used as data collection tools in the study. Independent two sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Generalized linear model, Tukey test, Robust ANOVA test were used in the analysis of quantitative data, and content analysis was used in the analysis of qualitative data. Results: After program, the Menopause Symptoms Assessment Scale subdimensions and total score and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score of the women in the experimental group were found to be lower than the control group. Six themes were identified in the study: thoughts about menopause, symptoms experienced during menopause, perception of femininity in menopause, the effect of menopause on daily life, coping with menopause and expectations in menopause. Conclusion: It was determined that program reduced vasomotor symptoms and improved sleep quality in postmenopausal women in the experimental group. Keywords: Postmenopausal woman, Sleep quality, Story Theory, Symptom management, Vasomotor symptoms