First author and year: Smith, 2009

Study design:

Quantitative - Questionnaire

Objective:

To evaluate current patient perspectives on the menopausal period in South Africa

Setting:

South Africa, private specialist practice in Tygerberg

Participants:

N = 410 (541 distributed, 421 returned, 410 used). Aged 37 - 88 years (mean 59.9)

How recruited:

Purposive sampling

When:

Jan-July 2003

Inclusion criteria:

All known patients with established post-menopausal status using hormone therapy

Tools and data collection:

Postal questionnaire

Analysis:

SPSS software. Means (standard deviations)

Gynaecologists = 87.2%

GPs = 28.3%

Print & electronic media = 38.3%

Data collection tools not subjected to validity and reliability test

Single private practice included but total population of private practices unknown

First author and year: Tsehay, 2014

Study design:

Quantitative - Questionnaire

Objective:

To examine middle aged women’s experience and attitudes towards menopausal symptoms

Setting:

Ethiopia, Danglia Town

Participants:

N = 263 pre- and post-menopausal women. 35 - 70 years (mean 46.7)

How recruited:

Purposive random sampling.

When:

Not stated

Inclusion criteria:

Women’s menstrual status

Tools and data collection:

1) Semi -Structured questionnaires

2) Piloted

3) Interviews

4) Questionnaires assessed by experts for content & Cronbach’s Alpha: = 0.87 for symptoms and 0.79 for attitudes

Analysis:

SPSS software. P value = 0.05

Friends = 70.8%

Medical care providers = 68.8%

Books, magazines, journals = 66.7%

Relatives = 56.3%

Educational sessions = 43.8%

Community Elders = 22.9%

Data collection period not indicated

Ethical considerations not indicated