Effectiveness Of Structured Teaching Programme On Knowledge Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Among Adolescent Girls

Introduction

Adolescence is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood, a time of profound biological, intellectual, psychological, and economic changes. During this period individual reaches physical and sexual maturity, develop more sophisticated reasoning abilities. The changes of adolescence have important implications for understanding the kinds of health risks to which young people are exposed, the health enhancing and risk taking behaviours in which they engage, and the major opportunities for health promotion among this population^1. This transition from childhood to adolescence is a journey with full of surprises, both for the parents and the children. There are many adolescent problems that stem up while passing through this phase. This is the time when they need guidance and care². Gynaecological diseases are fairly common but most of the women ignore the symptoms or they are unaware, till the time the problem really worsens. One of them, now a day's faced by girls, is polycystic ovarian syndrome.³

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was formerly called Stein-Levinthal Syndrome. In 1935 Dr. Stein and Levinthal described a syndrome in which women suffered irregular and usually rare periods, hirsutism (hair growth), and varying degrees of infertility⁴. PCOS is a common health problem among teenage girls and young women. It affects 5% to 10% of women in their reproductive years.⁵

In girls with PCOS, the ovaries produce higher than normal amounts of androgens, and this can interfere with egg development and release. Clinical symptoms of PCOS include: menstrual irregularities, inability to get pregnant due to lack of ovulation, increased hair growth in a male distribution pattern (e.g., on face and chest), acne and obesity⁶.

Although there is no cure for PCOS, there are several ways that the condition can be treated and managed. If a girl is overweight or obese, Weight loss can be very effective in lessening many of the health conditions associated with PCOS, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Sometimes weight loss alone can restore hormone levels to normal, causing many of the symptoms to disappear or become less severe. Healthy food habits and exercise is a great way to help combat the weight gain Talking with other teens and women with PCOS is a great way to share information about treatment and get support⁷.

Lack of knowledge and the negative lifestyle attitude towards polycystic ovarian disease among college girls and not taking any measures to improve their lifestyle pattern is felt by the investigator that these college girls can be helped by assessing their knowledge and with a view to change lifestyle by providing necessary information, so as to help them to get aware about the polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Review of Literature

An experimental study was conducted to find out the Effectiveness of (PTP) on PCOS for adolescent girls in a selected pre-university college at Mangalore. 50 samples were selected by using simple random technique. The mean pretest knowledge score was 57% and after conducting structurred teaching programme the score (Post test) was 87%. A significant difference between pretest and post-test knowledge was found. This indicates that structured teaching programme is effective in improving the knowledge of adolescent girls on PCOS⁸.

Materials and Methods

The research approach used in this study was evaluative approach. Research design used in this study was pre experimental- one group pre test post test design. Population comprised of80 adolescent girls (16-19yrs) in a selected college at Mangalore. 80 sample were selected using simple random sampling technique.

Structured knowledge questionnaire was administered to collect the data from adolescent girls. The questionnaire consists of 30 items related to polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Apart from the questionnaire demographic proforma was also administered to the subjects.

Pre-test was administered to the participants using structured knowledge questionnaire. After pre test researcher conducted structured teaching programme on polycystic ovarian syndrome. After 7 days of intervention the investigator administered the post test to assess the level of knowledge of adolescent girls using the same structured knowledge questionnaire. The data collected were analysed using frequency percentage, paired t- test and Fishers exact test.

Results

The findings are discussed under the following headings.

Discussion

The present study result revealed that there was significant difference between the mean pre-test and post-test knowledge scores. The pre-test mean percentage (4.37%) scores regarding PCOS were found to be less than post-test mean percentage (12.08%)) scores. 't'value computed between pre-test and post-test knowledge scores (t 2.0 p<0.05) was statistically significant. Hence it was proved that the STP was effective in enhancing knowledge of adolescent girls.

The effectiveness of structured teaching programme was supported by the study which was conducted by Mamatha regarding effectiveness of planned teaching programme on Assisted reproductive technology (ART) among GNM students in a selected college at Mangalore. The study revealed that the mean Post test score was (X =30.50) and mean Pre test score ( X = 15.25) and the difference was significant (t =1.673, p<0.01) This indicated the effectiveness of PTP in enhancing knowledge on ART.

Recommendations

1. A similar study can be replicated with a control group

2. A similar study can be conducted to the group of adult women.

3. The study can be replicated on a larger sample for generalizing the findings.

4. A comparative study can be conducted to find out the effectiveness of structured teaching programme and SIM on the same topic.

Conclusion

PCOS is a condition which can lead to severe health related problems and affects the reproductive youth of the country if not treated properly. Teaching adolescent girls on PCOS helps them to gain knowledge, hence helps to early detect and prevent the PCOS. The present study assessed the knowledge of adolescent girls regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome before and after the structured teaching programme. The study results revealed that adolescents have lack in knowledge about PCOS & the knowledge level increased after the structured teaching programme. So the study concluded that structured teaching programme is effective in improving the knowledge of adolescent girls.