Korean J Women Health Nurs.  2001 Dec;7(4):642-656.

The Climacteric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Climacteric Women according to Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Kim OM
• Lee YS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find the difference of the climacteric symptoms and quality of life according to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in climacteric women. The research design was a descriptive survey with questionaries. A convenience sample of 181 climacteric women aged 45-65 who had climacteric symptoms were selected in Kwangju city, Korea. Sixty-six climacteric women among those subjects were receiving HRT at K university hospital in Kwangju city. Data were collected by the interview with questionaries from Feb 3. 1999 to March 25, 1999. Climacteric symptoms were measured using scores developed by Neugarten(1965) and modified by Park(1989), and the quality of life scale related to climacteric symptoms developed by Hildtich(1996) and modified Kim(1998). Data were analyzed by z 2-test, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation procedures, using SAS/win PC+. The results were as follows 1. No statistically significant differences were found between the receiving HRT group and not receiving HRT group in demographic, obstetrical and health related characteristics. 2. There were no significant difference on the climacteric symptoms between the group of women receiving HRT (score 2.4) and the group of women who were not (score 2.6) except psychological area (t=2.407, p=0.017). 3. The quality of life of the group of women receiving HRT was significantly higher than that the group of women who were not (t=2.151, p=.032). 4. The quality of life of the group of women receiving HRT were high scores There were significantly high of the quality of life in the vaso-motor change area (t=2.634, p=0.009), psycho-social change area (t=3.239, p=0.001), and physical change area (t=2.031, p=0,043) in the group of receiving HRT compared to not receiving HRT group. 5. The variables showed significantly differences on the degree of climacteric symptoms of the group of women not receiving HRT were the subjective health state (t=15.81, p=0.000), age (t=7.50, p=0.007), feeling of menopause (t=30.88, p=0,000) and climacteric periods (t=8.66, p=0.003), and receiving HRT were number of para (t=3.95, p=0.050) and feeling of menopause (t=3.94, p=0.050). 6. The variables showed significantly difference on the quality of life of the group of women not receiving HRT were the subjective health state (t=4.14, p=0.044) and feeling of menopause (t=10.86, p=0.001). 7. There were significantly positive correlations between the climacteric symptoms and the quality of life in climacteric women (r=0.512, p=0.000).

MeSH Terms

Climacteric*
Female
Gwangju
Hormone Replacement Therapy*
Humans
Korea
Menopause
Quality of Life*
Research Design