Effectiveness of digital healthcare in managing menstrual symptoms: a systematic review

Pain and symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) significantly impact the quality of life of women of reproductive age, potentially leading to various physical and psychological health problems that negatively influence daily activities. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital healthcare interventions in reducing health issues related to dysmenorrhea and PMS in women of reproductive age.

We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search of three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) up to August 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating digital health interventions for managing dysmenorrhea and PMS symptoms in reproductive-age women. Of the 750 articles initially identified, eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

Eight studies were included, categorized as smartphone application-based interventions (n=5) and web-based programs (n=3). Digital healthcare interventions effectively reduced dysmenorrhea-related pain and positively impacted symptom management for both dysmenorrhea and PMS. PMS symptom severity was the most frequently measured outcome used to evaluate intervention effectiveness. These findings emphasize the potential of mobile and web-based platforms as accessible and effective tools for managing menstrual symptoms among women.

This review highlights the importance of digital healthcare in reducing health issues related to menstrual symptom management. It also highlights the critical role of nursing in integrating digital healthcare solutions to support menstrual health management among reproductive-age women.