A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effects of Lifestyle Medicine and Mindfulness-based Group Medical Visits on Stress, Microbiome, and Quality of Life in Women Experiencing Perimenopause and Menopause

Group Medical Visits (GMVs), also known as Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs), were introduced in literature in the 1970s, and despite support from organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians they have been slow to gain traction in the healthcare field. GMVs provide benefits to patients including increased access and time with the provider, improved quality of care, nonpharmacologic treatment, and the ability to share self-management tools. There is evidence that the GMV experience may impact clinical outcomes in patients with various diseases and conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes, breast cancer, and Multiple Sclerosis. However, the effects of GMVs on clinical and non-clinical outcomes for women - particularly for female-specific conditions like menopause - are not well established.

There is a clear demand for innovative and accessible care models like GMVs to address gaps in menopause care for women. More recently, a number of women are opting out of hormone therapy for menopause and exploring more integrative, holistic approaches to healthcare. Alternative approaches may include Lifestyle Medicine (LM) and mindfulness-based practices. Studies have demonstrated that mindfulness strategies, like meditation or yoga, can be a beneficial component to GMVs. Lifestyle Medicine, as defined by American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is a "medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to treat chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity". When applied intensively, Lifestyle Medicine has even been shown to reverse chronic conditions. Furthermore, Lifestyle Medicine interventions based on diet, physical activity and sleep hygiene have been shown to improve cardiometabolic outcomes. These types of choices for menopause interventions need support from knowledgeable providers of integrative techniques.

In addition to lifestyle and mindfulness-based interventions, investigating physiological factors in stress such as the microbiome offers a more comprehensive view of health during menopause. The gut microbiome, which consists of the ecosystem of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, is known to undergo significant changes with aging and menopause. As the gut microbiome plays a key role in psychological stress and overall health, a better understanding of the changes taking place in the microbiome during menopause will help identify areas for improvement and potential interventions for women during this transition.

The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the measurable effects of Lifestyle Medicine GMVs and mindfulness on stress, microbiome, and quality of life in women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. It is anticipated that the GMVs and mindfulness techniques will provide beneficial outcomes for the patients participating in the study, including a reduction of stress, inflammation, BMI, blood pressure and an increase in resilience. Additionally, we anticipate positive trends in self-reported perceptions of health such as physical, mental, and social quality of life. Potential challenges, risks or pitfalls of the study include recruiting a diverse patient population, self-reported data are subject to bias, and the billing structure for GMVs.

This research is significant to women experiencing peri- and post-menopause as it will provide data for future studies to implement more effective, engaging models for managing their health and well-being. Provider-patient contact time has decreased over the years, which can lead to poor health outcomes for patients. GMVs facilitate group healthcare without sacrificing personalization, patient education, and clinical components such as measuring vitals. The implications on a societal level are potential outcomes such as increased access to patient-centered, integrative healthcare, as well as customized non-pharmacological treatment for menopausal women. GMVs provide, or augment, solutions for women who elect not to take hormonal therapy for menopause symptoms. This GMV for the menopausal population will be called Navigating Menopause with a Mindfulness-Based Group Medical Visit.