Effectiveness of digital healthcare in managing menstrual symptoms: a systematic review.
Mi Seon Seo, Bok-Nam Seo
PMID 40639860WHAT IT FOUND
All eight trials found digital tools like apps and web programs reduced menstrual symptoms.
However, half had moderate risk of bias and blinding was rarely possible, so the results rely on self-reported improvements rather than objective measures.
Key findings
01All eight included randomized controlled trials reported positive effects of digital healthcare interventions on managing menstrual symptoms.
02Five of the eight studies had a moderate risk of bias, and blinding participants and researchers was a common concern across all studies due to the nature of the interventions.
03Interventions varied widely, including smartphone apps for tracking, Pilates, yoga, and acupressure, as well as web-based cognitive behavioral therapy and stress prevention training.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Blinding of participants and researchers was not possible in any of the eight studies, which may inflate perceived benefits due to placebo effects or reporting bias. Five of the eight studies had a moderate risk of bias, particularly regarding deviations from intended interventions and outcome measurement. The review used various measurement tools across studies, making it difficult to compare the magnitude of effect between different digital interventions. Sample sizes were small in three of the eight studies (fewer than 50 participants in the intervention group), which limits the generalizability of the findings. The review included only English-language articles, potentially excluding relevant studies from other regions.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest, and the study received no funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume digital interventions are objectively superior to standard care. All trials reported positive effects, but none could blind participants, and half had moderate risk of bias. The improvements are based on self-reported symptoms, which may reflect the attention or convenience of using an app rather than a specific therapeutic effect.