On the Effect of a Hybrid Health Literacy Intervention on Sexual Function and Digital Health Literacy in Menopausal Women (EHHLI-MNP)

September 18, 2026 updated by: Hatice Gul OZTAS, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

Effects of a Hybrid Health Literacy Intervention on Sexual Function and Digital Health Literacy in Postmenopausal Women

This randomized controlled study will evaluate whether a hybrid health literacy education program improves sexual function and digital health literacy in postmenopausal women. Hybrid education combines in-person and online sessions.

The study will include 128 women aged 45-60 years who have not had a menstrual period for at least 12 months. Participants will be recruited from the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Hospital in Türkiye and randomly assigned to an education group or a usual-care group, with 64 women in each group.

The education group will receive a midwife-led program consisting of one in-person session and two online sessions over three weeks. The sessions will cover sexual health during menopause, finding and evaluating reliable online health information, and using this information in daily life. Women in the usual-care group will continue to receive routine health services without additional study education.

Participants in both groups will complete questionnaires assessing sexual function and digital health literacy before and after the intervention period. Researchers will compare changes between the groups to assess the effects of the education program.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The intervention is designed to help postmenopausal women access, understand, critically evaluate, and apply health information relevant to sexual well-being. It combines sexual health education with practical activities aimed at strengthening digital health literacy.

The first session, delivered in person, introduces health literacy and sexual changes associated with menopause. Topics include changes in sexual desire, vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, body awareness, and communication with a partner. Activities include discussion of short educational texts, clarification of unfamiliar health terms, breathing and relaxation techniques, and guided pelvic floor muscle exercises.

The second session, delivered online, focuses on finding reliable health information and evaluating online content. Participants will discuss how to assess the source, scientific basis, currency, and potential commercial interests of health information. Scenario-based activities will help participants compare different recommendations and consider their relevance to individual needs.

The third session, also delivered online, focuses on applying information in daily life. Participants will develop personal plans addressing pelvic floor exercises, partner communication, and informed decisions about sexual health practices. Information about vaginal moisturizers and lubricants will be provided for educational purposes; no medication or product will be assigned as a study treatment. Discussion of practical difficulties and educator feedback will reinforce the skills covered during the program.

Questionnaires will be administered using printed forms or Google Forms. Responses will be coded to protect participant confidentiality. The analysis will evaluate between-group differences and changes over time in sexual function and digital health literacy.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
128

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

45 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women aged 45-60 years. Postmenopausal status, defined as at least 12 months since the last menstrual period.

Willing and able to provide written informed consent. Able to use a smartphone, tablet, or computer and participate in online sessions.

Able to read and write in Turkish.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Serious systemic disease, such as heart failure, renal failure, liver failure, or uncontrolled hypertension.

A diagnosis of depression, an anxiety disorder, dementia, or another serious psychiatric condition.

A history of pelvic surgery or a current vaginal infection. Current use of hormone therapy. Regular use of medications that may affect sexual function, such as antidepressants.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Hybrid Health Literacy Education

Participants will receive a midwife-led hybrid health literacy education program consisting of three sessions over three weeks: one in-person session and two online sessions. The program will address sexual health during menopause, body awareness, pelvic floor exercises, partner communication, and skills for finding, evaluating, and applying reliable online health information. Educational activities will include discussions, practical exercises, scenario-based learning, and development of personal plans for applying the information in daily life.
Behavioral: Hybrid Health Literacy Education

A midwife-led education program delivered over three weeks through one in-person session and two online sessions. The program covers sexual health during menopause, pelvic floor exercises, partner communication, and skills for finding, evaluating, and applying reliable online health information.
No Intervention: control group

Participants will receive routine health services without additional study education and complete the same assessments as the intervention group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Total Score
Time Frame: 3 week

Sexual function will be assessed using the validated Turkish version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a 19-item self-report questionnaire covering six domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. The questionnaire assesses sexual function over the preceding four weeks. The weighted domain scores are summed to obtain a total score ranging from 2 to 36, with higher scores indicating better sexual function. Change will be calculated as the post-intervention total score minus the baseline total score. Positive change scores indicate improvement. Changes will be compared between the intervention and control groups.
3 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Digital Health Literacy Scale Total Score
Time Frame: 3 week

Digital health literacy will be assessed using the 18-item Turkish version of the Digital Health Literacy Scale. The scale covers six domains: information searching, evaluating reliability, determining relevance, navigation skills, adding content, and protecting privacy. Each item is scored from 1 to 4, yielding a total score ranging from 18 to 72. Higher scores indicate greater digital health literacy. Change will be calculated as the post-intervention total score minus the baseline total score. Positive change scores indicate improvement. Changes will be compared between the intervention and control groups.
3 week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 5, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 18, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 18, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KahramanmaraşSIU13

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers to protect participant privacy, given the sensitive nature of the sexual health information collected. Study findings will be disseminated in aggregate form through scientific publications and presentations.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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