On the Effect of a Hybrid Health Literacy Intervention on Sexual Function and Digital Health Literacy in Menopausal Women

This randomized controlled study will evaluate whether a hybrid health literacy education program improves sexual function and digital health literacy in postmenopausal women. Hybrid education combines in-person and online sessions. The study will include 128 women aged 45-60 years who have not had a menstrual period for at least 12 months. Participants will be recruited from the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Hospital in Türkiye and randomly assigned to an education group or a usual-care group, with 64 women in each group. The education group will receive a midwife-led program consisting of one in-person session and two online sessions over three weeks. The sessions will cover sexual health during menopause, finding and evaluating reliable online health information, and using this information in daily life. Women in the usual-care group will continue to receive routine health services without additional study education. Participants in both groups will complete questionnaires assessing sexual function and digital health literacy before and after the intervention period. Researchers will compare changes between the groups to assess the effects of the education program.

Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged 45-60 years. Postmenopausal status, defined as at least 12 months since the last menstrual period. Willing and able to provide written informed consent. Able to use a smartphone, tablet, or computer and participate in online sessions. Able to read and write in Turkish. Exclusion Criteria: * Serious systemic disease, such as heart failure, renal failure, liver failure, or uncontrolled hypertension. A diagnosis of depression, an anxiety disorder, dementia, or another serious psychiatric condition. A history of pelvic surgery or a current vaginal infection. Current use of hormone therapy. Regular use of medications that may affect sexual function, such as antidepressants.