Online TeleHealth of Mind-body Interventions Versus Face-to-Face Counseling and the Health-related Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background & aim: Limited studies have been conducted on the effectiveness, applicability, and satisfaction of mind-body interventions as short-term methods that affect body conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Therefore, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of online mind-body interventions versus face-to-face counseling on the quality of life (QOL) of women with PCOS.Methods: This parallel randomized clinical trial was implemented in Yazd in ۲۰۲۰.  Sixty eligible women with PCOS were randomly allocated to the online group (n=۳۰) and face-to-face counseling (n=۳۰) groups. Eight ۱۲۰-minute sessions of mind-body interventions were held for both groups, either as online or face-to face. Data was collected using the PCOS Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) questionnaire (at baseline, week ۸ and ۱۲), counseling satisfaction scale (at week ۸ and ۱۲), and FBS (at baseline and week ۸) in both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version۲۲) using T-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.Results:  HRQOL was ۹۴.۸۷±۱۱.۷۵ in online and ۹۰.۵۰±۹.۷۶ in face-to-face group at baseline, which increased significantly to ۱۰۸.۵۳±۴.۵ in the online and face-to-face groups at week ۱۲, with a greater increase in the online group (P<۰.۰۰۱). Satisfaction with counseling increased at week ۱۲ compared to week ۸ in both groups, which was not significantly different (P=۰.۳۱). FBS decreased at week ۸ compared to baseline in both groups without a significant difference (P=۰.۲۶).Conclusion: The greater effectiveness of online mind-body interventions on HRQOL in women with PCOS highlights their potential value as telehealth interventions.

Keywords:

Counseling , Mind-bodyTherapies , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of life , Women