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Experience of menopausal symptoms by Chinese and Canadian women
J R Hilditch1, S Chen, P G Norton
1Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Canada.
Objective:
This study examines the differences in frequency and distress caused by menopausal symptoms experienced by Canadian and Chinese women.
Design:
Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Canada and China.
Setting:
The Canadian studies were conducted in Toronto. The Chinese data were collected in Guangzhou City.
Participants:
Women, 47-62 years old, 2-7 years after a natural menopause, were recruited.
Methods:
Two hundred and eighty-two Canadians were recruited for two menopause studies. Data from 297 Chinese were obtained through a household survey. From a 105-item symptom questionnaire, women indicated the frequency and distress caused by symptoms in the previous month.
Main Outcome Measures:
Frequency and mean distress score of problems were ranked and compared. Using the importance score method, a Chinese questionnaire was constructed and compared with the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire.
Results:
The frequency of symptoms and distress experienced by Canadian and Chinese women differed markedly. Fourteen of the 29 items differed between the Chinese questionnaire and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire.
Conclusions:
There are striking differences between Chinese and Canadian women in the frequency and distress caused by menopausal symptoms. The Canadian questionnaire may not be relevant for Chinese women.
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