MENOS@Work Trial: A Self-help CBT Intervention for Working Women

Menopause at Work: Improving the Experience of Menopause for Working Women

The study will be a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a brief self-help CBT intervention (SHCBT), compared with a no treatment-wait control (NTWC) who do not receive the intervention, on the impact of hot flushes experienced by menopausal women in work settings. The study involves samples from a minimum of two large employers (who have already expressed an interest in taking part) and randomly allocating at least 50 eligible women to the SHCBT intervention and another 50 to a NTWC condition (i.e. a minimum of 100 participants in total). Both groups will complete baseline questionnaires (A0), and follow up assessments at 6 weeks (A1) and 20 weeks (A2) post-randomisation. Questionnaires will be completed online or paper and pencil, providing data on the outcomes of interest to assess the interventions effectiveness and feasibility. Participants of the treatment group will also be invited to take part in an evaluation interview at A2. The NTWC will be offered the intervention off-trial.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Menopause
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: self-help CBT intervention (SHCBT)

Detailed Description

While some women go through the menopause without any problems, about 25% have troublesome symptoms that affect their daily lives. Hot flushes and night sweats are the main menopausal symptoms and cause physical discomfort, embarrassment and interfere with sleep. Menopausal symptoms have also been reported as problematic by women when at work. In the UK there are over 3.5 million working women aged between 50 and 65 (the majority of whom will be in the menopause transition or postmenopause), yet there is a general lack of awareness about menopause in work settings. Some women take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help them to manage working life, but many prefer non-medical options. While there are effective non-medical interventions (such as cognitive behaviour therapy) to help women to manage and cope with menopausal symptoms, these are not yet widely available on the NHS or in the workplace.

In a recent study of 896 women's experiences of working through the menopausal transition in the UK, Griffiths and colleagues (2013) found that the menopausal transition caused difficulties for them, mainly due to troublesome hot flushes, poor concentration, tiredness, poor memory, feeling low/depressed and lowered confidence. Some women were also concerned that their work performance had been negatively affected. Those who were taking HRT did so mainly to help them to cope at work but over 30% of these had side effects or felt that HRT had not helped. The majority of women were unwilling to disclose menopause-related health problems to line managers, most of whom were men or younger than them. Four major areas of need were identified: (i) greater awareness among managers about menopause as a possible occupational health issue, (ii) flexible working hours, (iii) access to information and sources of support at work, and (iv) attention to workplace temperature and ventilation. The authors concluded that employers should be aware that menopausal transition can cause difficulty for some women at work, and that much can be done to support them. The proposed research will aim to target (iii).

Hunter and colleagues (2012) have developed a brief non-medical treatment to help women to manage hot flushes and night sweats, based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), to help women to manage menopausal symptoms. They have evaluated group and self-help forms of the interventions, and found them to be highly effective in reducing how problematic the symptoms are rated. Women receive information and advice to help them to develop strategies to reduce stress, to deal with hot flushes and to improve sleep disrupted by night sweats. In recent randomised controlled trials, women who received the CBT intervention benefited from improvements in hot flushes and night sweats, sleep and perception of memory and concentration, and ability to cope, resulting in benefits to quality of life compared to those who received usual care. Interestingly, the self-help CBT (containing the same information in a booklet with a relaxation CD) was as effective as the group CBT.

The proposed research builds upon these findings and aims to develop and examine the feasibility and impact of an adapted self-help CBT intervention (SHCBT) based on Hunter's early work to help management symptoms and improve the quality of life for working menopausal women.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 124
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • London, United Kingdom, SE1 9RT
    • King's College London

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 45 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Employed women aged 45-60 years
• Have at least 10 problematic (score >2 on HFRS) hot flushes per week for at least two months
• Have a good understanding of English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Men
• Women who cannot understand English
• Women with problematic mental health conditions that may affect participation in the study
• Women not employed (by participating organisations)
• Women outside the inclusion age range and symptom criteria.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: SH-CBT; This intervention will be a tailored CBT intervention adapted from the previously validated (Ayres, et al., 2012) self-help CBT intervention that comprises of a self-help booklet containing information, advice, a relaxation CD and daily diaries. This intervention lasts 4 weeks (approx. 4 hours per week) and the materials guide the individual through each chapter and exercise, including the homework set out for each chapter.	Behavioral: self-help CBT intervention (SHCBT); See 'Arms' section
No Intervention: No Treatment-Wait Control (NTWC); Women will be offered no intervention but will complete questionnaires at the same assessment points as the intervention/treatment arm participant group (i.e. baseline (A0), 6 weeks (A1), 20 weeks (A2) post randomisation). They will be offered the SHCBT intervention off trial following the final assessment (i.e. A2).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Problematic hot flushes	Measured using the Hot Flush Rating Scale (HFRS) by Hunter & Liao (1995), which includes a score between 1-10 based on the mean of three 3-point Likert scales (1=no problem at all, 10=very much a problem) assessing hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS) bother, interference, and distress.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Problematic hot flushes	Measured using the Hot Flush Rating Scale (HFRS) by Hunter & Liao (1995), which includes a score between 1-10 based on the mean of three 3-point Likert scales (1=no problem at all, 10=very much a problem) assessing hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS) bother, interference, and distress.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Problematic hot flushes (frequency)	Measured using the Hot Flush Rating Scale (HFRS) by Hunter & Liao (1995), which gives provides a retrospective recording of the frequency of HFNS and the average severity of the HFNW for the previous week (1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Problematic hot flushes (frequency)	Measured using the Hot Flush Rating Scale (HFRS) by Hunter & Liao (1995), which gives provides a retrospective recording of the frequency of HFNS and the average severity of the HFNW for the previous week (1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Menopause Representation Questionnaire (Hunter & O'Dea, 2001)	designed to assess women's attributions (identity) of symptoms to the menopause (20 items) and beliefs subscales (cognitive representations) about the menopause (17 items). The belief items are scored on 5-point scales from strongly agree (5) to strongly disagree (1), and mean scores are calculated for beliefs subscales. The identity subscale items are scored from 0 to 2 and summed.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Menopause Representation Questionnaire (Hunter & O'Dea, 2001)	designed to assess women's attributions (identity) of symptoms to the menopause (20 items) and beliefs subscales (cognitive representations) about the menopause (17 items). The belief items are scored on 5-point scales from strongly agree (5) to strongly disagree (1), and mean scores are calculated for beliefs subscales. The identity subscale items are scored from 0 to 2 and summed.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Attitude to Menopause at Work	This measures attitude to menopause and work and whether women feel that their job performance has been affected by menopausal symptoms, and whether they feel that menopause has negatively affected manager's and colleagues views of competence at work (Griffiths, et al., 2010). Contains 2 items scored on 5-point scales (agree (5) to strongly disagree (1)).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Attitude to Menopause at Work	This measures attitude to menopause and work .e. whether women feel that their job performance has been affected by menopausal symptoms, and whether they feel that menopause has negatively affected manager's and colleagues views of competence at work (Griffiths, et al., 2010). Contains 2 items scored on 5-point scales (agree (5) to strongly disagree (1)).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Hot Flush and Night Sweats Belief & Behaviour	16 items to measure beliefs about hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS) and behavioural reactions to cope with HFNS using a 6-point scale from strongly disagree (0) to strongly agree (5). This is a shortened and combined version of Hot Flush Belief & Behaviour Scale (Rendall, et al, 2008; Hunter et al, 2011)	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Hot Flush and Night Sweats Belief & Behaviour	16 items to measure beliefs about hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS) and behavioural reactions to cope with HFNS using a 6-point scale from strongly disagree (0) to strongly agree (5). This is a shortened and combined version of Hot Flush Belief & Behaviour Scale (Rendall, et al, 2008; Hunter et al, 2011)	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Presenteeism (Koopman et al, 2002)	Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS6, Koopman, et al 2002) is used to measure workplace presenteeism, comprises of 6 items that are summed to produce a total presenteeism score. Each item asks the respondent to indicate their work experience over the last month using a 5-point scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Presenteeism (Koopman et al, 2002)	Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS6, Koopman, et al 2002) is used to measure workplace presenteeism, comprises of 6 items that are summed to produce a total presenteeism score. Each item asks the respondent to indicate their work experience over the last month using a 5-point scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Workplace absence (duration)	Participants asked to provide detail of number of days they have taken off from work over the last 4 weeks because of the menopause.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Workplace absence (duration)	Participants asked to provide detail of number of days they have taken off from work over the last 4 weeks because of the menopause.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Workplace absence (spells)	Participants asked to provide detail of average length of spells of absence from work over the last 4 weeks because of the menopause.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Workplace absence (spells)	Participants asked to provide detail of average length of spells of absence from work over the last 4 weeks because of the menopause.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Workplace absence (arriving late/leaving early)	Participants asked to provide detail of any time over the last 4 weeks been late to work of left work early because of the menopause.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Workplace absence (arriving late/leaving early)	Participants asked to provide detail of any time over the last 4 weeks been late to work of left work early because of the menopause.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Menopausal symptom disclosure to manager	Menopausal symptom disclosure to managers is measured using a single dichotomous item ('yes' or 'no'; Griffiths, et al, 2010, 2013) and whether participants have told their manager about any reduced working hours (i.e. arriving late, leaving early) due to their menopausal symptoms (if appropriate) 'yes', 'no', 'sometimes').	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Menopausal symptom disclosure to manager	Menopausal symptom disclosure to managers is measured using a single dichotomous item ('yes' or 'no'; Griffiths, et al, 2010, 2013) and whether participants have told their manager about any reduced working hours (i.e. arriving late, leaving early) due to their menopausal symptoms (if appropriate) 'yes', 'no', 'sometimes').	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Turnover intentions	Work turnover intentions are measured with 4 items (Shore and Martin, 1980), to assess how likely the individual is to leave their organisation). Each item contains 5 response options indicating low (1) to high (5) intentions to remain in their organisation that can be averaged to provide an overall score. Two further items are used to measure the degree to which the individual has considered reducing their working hours or leaving the workforce altogether ('yes', 'no', 'sometimes').	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Turnover intentions	Work turnover intentions are measured with 4 items (Shore and Martin, 1980), to assess how likely the individual is to leave their organisation). Each item contains 5 response options indicating low (1) to high (5) intentions to remain in their organisation that can be averaged to provide an overall score. Two further items are used to measure the degree to which the individual has considered reducing their working hours or leaving the workforce altogether ('yes', 'no', 'sometimes').	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Job satisfaction	A single-item 7-point Likert scale (1=extremely dissatisfied, 4=neither dissatisfied or satisfied, 7=extremely satisfied) to indicate an individual's level of contentment with their job (Griffiths et al, 2010,2013).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Job satisfaction	A single-item 7-point Likert scale (1=extremely dissatisfied, 4=neither dissatisfied or satisfied, 7=extremely satisfied) to indicate an individual's level of contentment with their job (Griffiths et al, 2010,2013).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Job performance	A single self-report item. Participants are asked to rate their performance compared to others in a similar role or position to themselves usinf a 5-point Likert scale (1=poor, 5=excellent).	Measurements will be taken A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Job performance	A single self-report item. Participants are asked to rate their performance compared to others in a similar role or position to themselves usinf a 5-point Likert scale (1=poor, 5=excellent).	Measurements will be taken A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Job stress	A single, self-report item asking participants to indicate on a 4-point Likert scale how stressful they find their job (1=not stressful, 4=extremely stressful) (Houdmont et al, 2012).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Job stress	A single, self-report item asking participants to indicate on a 4-point Likert scale how stressful they find their job (1=not stressful, 4=extremely stressful) (Houdmont et al, 2012).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Perceptions of physical and emotional menopausal symptoms	Women's Health Questionnaire (Hunter, 1992) used to assess participant perceptions of symptoms using a 4-point Likert scale. Includes 37 items.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Perceptions of physical and emotional menopausal symptoms	Women's Health Questionnaire (Hunter, 1992) used to assess participant perceptions of symptoms using a 4-point Likert scale. Includes 37 items.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Sleep quality (Mundt, et al, 2002)	Single item from Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Buysse et al., 1989) that measures quality of sleep over the last month using a 5-point likert scale (very good=5 to very bad = 1).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Sleep quality (Mundt, et al, 2002)	Single item from Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Buysse et al., 1989) that measures quality of sleep over the last month using a 5-point likert scale (very good=5 to very bad = 1).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Personal resilience at work	Single item that measures participants' self-perceived level of resilience in the work context (Hardy et al, in prep) used using a 9-point scale (1=low resilience to 9=high resilience).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Personal resilience at work	Single item that measures participants' self-perceived level of resilience in the work context (Hardy et al, in prep) used using a 9-point scale (1=low resilience to 9=high resilience).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Use of medical resources for menopause (visits)	The use of medical resources for menopause and treatments for HFNS will be monitored, to determine how often visited their GP/hospital doctor/nurse about the menopause since starting the trial.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Use of medical resources for menopause (treatments for HFNS)	The use of medical resources for treatments for HFNS will be monitored, by asking whether they have/are currently taking any treatment (medical or non-medical) for HFNS (dichotomous: yes/no).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Adherence, acceptability and feasibility of intervention: completion	Question about how much of the booklet they read using a 4-point likert scale (not at all - all of it).	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Adherence, acceptability and feasibility of intervention: completion	Question about how much of the booklet they read using a 4-point likert scale (not at all - all of it).	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Adherence, acceptability and feasibility of intervention: changes in coping	Six items using a 5-point Likert scale (1=not at all to 5 =extremely) asking whether the guide has affected their management of dealing with stress and coping in the past 4 weeks.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Adherence, acceptability and feasibility of intervention: changes in coping	Six items using a 5-point Likert scale (1=not at all to 5 =extremely) asking whether the guide has affected their management of dealing with stress and coping in the past 4 weeks.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).
Adherence, acceptability and feasibility of intervention: relaxation and breathing	4 items using 5-point scales to evaluate the relaxation and breathing exercises.	Measurements will be taken at A1 (6 weeks postrandomisation).
Adherence, acceptability and feasibility of intervention: relaxation and breathing	4 items using 5-point scales to evaluate the relaxation and breathing exercises.	Measurements will be taken at A2 (20 weeks postrandomisation).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: King's College London
• Collaborators: University of Nottingham; Wellbeing of Women
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Myra S Hunter, PhD, King's College London

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hardy C, Griffiths A, Norton S, Hunter MS. Self-help cognitive behavior therapy for working women with problematic hot flushes and night sweats (MENOS@Work): a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Menopause. 2018 May;25(5):508-519. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001048.
• Hunter MS, Hardy C, Norton S, Griffiths A. Study protocol of a multicentre randomised controlled trial of self-help cognitive behaviour therapy for working women with menopausal symptoms (MENOS@Work). Maturitas. 2016 Oct;92:186-192. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.07.020. Epub 2016 Jul 29.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 25, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): December 7, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 3, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2017
• Last Verified: December 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: WOW-RG1701