Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups
Abstract Background Menopause and midlife are stages in a woman’s life that can be marked by debilitating symptoms and increasing risks for cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and bone health issues. Walking represents a simple, low cost, and widely accessible activity with proven health benefits, th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-020-01037-y |
| _version_ | 1819047504797237248 |
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| author | Beate C. Sydora Tatjana Alvadj Alexandra Malley Maria Mayan Tami Shandro Sue Ross |
| author_facet | Beate C. Sydora Tatjana Alvadj Alexandra Malley Maria Mayan Tami Shandro Sue Ross |
| author_sort | Beate C. Sydora |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Menopause and midlife are stages in a woman’s life that can be marked by debilitating symptoms and increasing risks for cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and bone health issues. Walking represents a simple, low cost, and widely accessible activity with proven health benefits, though its therapeutic effect on alleviating menopause symptoms is not well characterized. Women are generally not opposed to exercise programs; however, increasing or maintaining exercise levels remains a challenge. We undertook a qualitative descriptive study to explore features of a walking program that would be conductive to menopausal women’s participation, as well as to inform the development of such a program. Methods We conducted focus groups with women recruited from two menopause clinics and who suffered from moderate to severe menopause symptoms. The focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Women were prompted to talk about their menopause experience and exercise practice and how they would envision a walking exercise program that would keep them engaged. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data and to identify characteristics of a walking exercise program. Results Twenty women participated in 5 focus groups. Women were very interested in trying walking as a means of staying healthy and possibly reducing menopause symptoms. Four major characteristics emerged as important for a walking program: (a) sensitivity to health realities of menopausal women, (b) inclusivity of various needs/levels of physical ability, (c) attentiveness to the need for mutual social support, (d) flexibility in planning of locations and scheduling. A restricted social network platform with features catering to women in menopause was suggested as suitable to initiate and sustain an adequate walking program. Conclusions The findings of this study will be essential in designing a program that would be attractive for women to start and maintain a walking habit. The program would assist in elucidating whether walking is a useful and valuable alternative therapy for menopausal symptoms and, ultimately, might help women staying fit in midlife and postmenopausal. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:01:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5fbc1e6bb774f37b4e1ecb89adba095 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:01:25Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5fbc1e6bb774f37b4e1ecb89adba0952022-12-21T19:06:20ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742020-08-012011810.1186/s12905-020-01037-yWalking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groupsBeate C. Sydora0Tatjana Alvadj1Alexandra Malley2Maria Mayan3Tami Shandro4Sue Ross5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of AlbertaWomen and Children’s Health Research Institute, Faculty of Extension, University of AlbertaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of AlbertaFaculty of Extension, University of AlbertaFamily Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of AlbertaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of AlbertaAbstract Background Menopause and midlife are stages in a woman’s life that can be marked by debilitating symptoms and increasing risks for cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and bone health issues. Walking represents a simple, low cost, and widely accessible activity with proven health benefits, though its therapeutic effect on alleviating menopause symptoms is not well characterized. Women are generally not opposed to exercise programs; however, increasing or maintaining exercise levels remains a challenge. We undertook a qualitative descriptive study to explore features of a walking program that would be conductive to menopausal women’s participation, as well as to inform the development of such a program. Methods We conducted focus groups with women recruited from two menopause clinics and who suffered from moderate to severe menopause symptoms. The focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Women were prompted to talk about their menopause experience and exercise practice and how they would envision a walking exercise program that would keep them engaged. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data and to identify characteristics of a walking exercise program. Results Twenty women participated in 5 focus groups. Women were very interested in trying walking as a means of staying healthy and possibly reducing menopause symptoms. Four major characteristics emerged as important for a walking program: (a) sensitivity to health realities of menopausal women, (b) inclusivity of various needs/levels of physical ability, (c) attentiveness to the need for mutual social support, (d) flexibility in planning of locations and scheduling. A restricted social network platform with features catering to women in menopause was suggested as suitable to initiate and sustain an adequate walking program. Conclusions The findings of this study will be essential in designing a program that would be attractive for women to start and maintain a walking habit. The program would assist in elucidating whether walking is a useful and valuable alternative therapy for menopausal symptoms and, ultimately, might help women staying fit in midlife and postmenopausal.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-020-01037-yMenopauseMenopause symptomsWalkingWalking programWalking application |
| spellingShingle | Beate C. Sydora Tatjana Alvadj Alexandra Malley Maria Mayan Tami Shandro Sue Ross Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups BMC Women's Health Menopause Menopause symptoms Walking Walking program Walking application |
| title | Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups |
| title_full | Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups |
| title_fullStr | Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups |
| title_full_unstemmed | Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups |
| title_short | Walking together: women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program; outcome from focus groups |
| title_sort | walking together women with the severe symptoms of menopause propose a platform for a walking program outcome from focus groups |
| topic | Menopause Menopause symptoms Walking Walking program Walking application |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-020-01037-y |
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