A Study to the Assess the Effectiveness of Planned Teaching ProgramME on Yoga and Meditation Related Menopausal Symptoms in Terms of Knowledge Among Menopausal Women of Rural Areas of Gandhinagar District Gujarat State

Abstract

Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood swings can significantly impact the quality of life for women, particularly in rural areas where awareness of effective management strategies is often limited. Many women in these communities lack access to information about non-pharmacological interventions like yoga and meditation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a planned teaching programme (PTP) in improving knowledge about the use of yoga and meditation for managing menopausal symptoms among women in the rural areas of Gandhinagar district. This study employed a quantitative, evaluative approach using a quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test posttest design. The sample consisted of 60 menopausal women from selected rural areas within the Gandhinagar district. A structured knowledge questionnaire was administered to assess participants’ baseline knowledge on the topic (pre-test). Following this, a planned teaching programme focused on using yoga and meditation to manage menopausal symptoms was delivered as the intervention. The same questionnaire was used to measure knowledge again after the programme (posttest) to evaluate its effectiveness. The data analysis revealed a substantial improvement in knowledge following the intervention. The mean pre-test knowledge score was 8.5, which increased significantly to a mean post-test score of 17.8. This represents a mean knowledge gain of 9.3 points. The increase was found to be statistically significant at the 0.05 level, as the calculated ‘t’ value of 12.1 was greater than the tabulated ‘t’ value of 1.67, confirming the effectiveness of the teaching programme. The findings demonstrate that the planned teaching programme was highly effective in significantly improving the knowledge of menopausal women regarding the use of yoga and meditation for managing their symptoms. The study highlights that targeted educational interventions are a valuable and powerful strategy for empowering rural women with safe, low-cost, and non-pharmacological methods to enhance their quality of life during menopause. This outcome has direct and practical implications for community nursing practice, suggesting that health education can play a crucial role in promoting self-care and wellbeing in underserved populations.