Menopause Education Programs for Healthcare Professionals Based on the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology.

OBJECTIVES

Healthcare professionals are poorly educated about menopausal disorders. To address this issue, we launched an online Menopause Instructor Course, which is certified by the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSPOG).

METHODS

Courses covering general remarks, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), non-HRT treatments, mental health, decision-making, and healthcare support were held in 2023 and 2024. Cognitive behavioral therapy was included in 2024. JSPOG-member healthcare professionals who completed all on-demand lectures and passed a post-test received certification as Menopause Instructors. In 2024, a questionnaire survey assessed participant feedback and compared Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OB/GYNs) to other healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

A total of 198 and 143 professionals were certified in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with most of them being OB/GYNs. Certified Menopause Instructors were located across Japan. A survey conducted in 2024 showed that 93.7% of respondents were satisfied with the course. OB/GYNs found general remarks, HRT, and non-HRT treatments to be significantly easier. The overall self-assessed understanding was high (8.04 ± 1.01), with OB/GYNs scoring significantly higher than other healthcare professionals (8.29 ± 0.95 vs. 7.87 ± 1.02, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The course successfully increased the number of trained professionals in menopause in Japan. Enhancing the course content to better serve OB/GYNs and other healthcare professionals is essential.