BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

Adolescence is a transitional period marked by rapid physical, psychological, and hormonal changes.

Reproductive health problems emerging during this phase often remain unrecognized due to lack of awareness. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. It is characterized by menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, obesity, and polycystic ovaries. Early onset of PCOS during adolescence can predispose individuals to infertility, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, and psychological stress in later life.

Despite its increasing prevalence, knowledge regarding PCOS among adolescent girls remains inadequate. Many adolescents consider menstrual irregularities as normal changes, leading to delayed diagnosis and management. Structured teaching programmes conducted at the school level can significantly improve awareness, promote early detection, and encourage healthy lifestyle practices. Hence, the investigator felt the need to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding PCOS among adolescent girls.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

PCOS has emerged as a major public health concern among adolescent girls. Studies reveal that the prevalence of PCOS among Indian adolescents ranges from 6% to 18%. Lack of knowledge regarding risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures contributes to late diagnosis and complications. School-based educational interventions can play a vital role in improving adolescents’ understanding of PCOS. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme in enhancing knowledge regarding PCOS among adolescent girls in a selected school of Jodhpur.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

An experimental study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome among adolescent girls in a selected school, Jodhpur Rajasthan.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the pre-test level of knowledge regarding PCOS among adolescent girls.

2. To assess the post-test level of knowledge regarding PCOS among adolescent girls.

3. To evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding PCOS.

4. To find the association between pre-test knowledge scores and selected demographic variables.

HYPOTHESES:

· H1: There will be a significant difference between pre-test and post-test knowledge scores regarding PCOS among adolescent girls.

· H2: There will be a significant association between pre-test knowledge scores and selected demographic variables.

ASSUMPTIONS:

· Adolescent girls may have inadequate knowledge regarding PCOS.

· Structured teaching programme can improve knowledge regarding PCOS.

· Knowledge gained through teaching programme may help in early identification and prevention of complications.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

· Effectiveness: The extent to which the structured teaching programme improves the knowledge score of adolescent girls regarding PCOS as measured by the difference between pre-test and post-test scores.

· Structured Teaching Programme (STP): A systematically planned and organized educational session designed by the investigator to provide information on PCOS, including definition, causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, management, and preventive measures.

· Knowledge: The level of understanding of adolescent girls regarding PCOS, measured by the total score obtained in the structured knowledge questionnaire.

· Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A common endocrine disorder characterized by menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, often associated with obesity and insulin resistance.

· Adolescent Girls: Female students aged 13–18 years studying in the selected school of Jodhpur.

DELIMITATIONS:

· The study is limited to adolescent girls studying in one selected school of Jodhpur.

· The sample size is limited to 60 participants.

· The study focuses only on knowledge, not attitude or practice.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Studies Related to Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:

Teede et al. (2020) highlighted that PCOS frequently manifests during adolescence and is associated with long-term reproductive and metabolic complications (Human Reproduction).

Deswal et al. (2020) found an increasing trend of PCOS among urban adolescent girls, attributing it to sedentary lifestyle and obesity (Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences).

Studies Related to Knowledge Regarding PCOS Among Adolescent Girls:

Sivayogan et al. (2018) conducted a cross-sectional study to assess awareness of PCOS among adolescent girls and found that more than 65% had poor knowledge regarding symptoms and complications (International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health). Sharma and Majumdar (2021) reported that menstrual irregularities were often perceived as normal among adolescents, resulting in delayed diagnosis of PCOS (Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care).

A study by Joshi et al. (2019) revealed that lack of school-based reproductive health education significantly contributed to inadequate awareness regarding PCOS among adolescent girls (Indian Journal of Community Health).

Studies Related to Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programmes on PCOS:

Kumar and Singh (2020) conducted a quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding PCOS among adolescent girls. The study showed a significant improvement in post-test knowledge scores compared to pre-test scores (International Journal of Nursing Education).

Patel et al. (2022) assessed the impact of a health education intervention on PCOS awareness among school-going adolescents and reported statistically significant improvement in knowledge and positive attitude following the intervention (Journal of Education and Health Promotion).

A recent interventional study by Rani and Lakshmi (2023) demonstrated that structured teaching programmes were effective in improving knowledge and promoting healthy lifestyle practices among adolescent girls (Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research).

The reviewed literature clearly indicates inadequate knowledge regarding PCOS among adolescent girls and supports the need for structured teaching programmes to improve awareness and early prevention.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research Approach:

Quantitative research approach.

Research Design:

Pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design.

Variables:

· Independent Variable: Structured teaching programme.

· Dependent Variable: Knowledge regarding PCOS.

· Demographic Variables: Age, class, source of information.

Setting of the Study:

Selected school, Jodhpur.

Population:

All adolescent girls studying in the selected school.

Sample and Sample Size:

60 adolescent girls.

Sampling Technique:

Convenience sampling technique.

Tool for Data Collection:

A structured knowledge questionnaire consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions.

Reliability and Validity:

The tool was validated by experts in nursing and gynecology. Reliability was established using split-half method (r = 0.82).

Data Collection Procedure:

Pre-test was conducted using structured questionnaire, followed by administration of structured teaching programme. Post-test was conducted after 7 days using the same questionnaire.

Plan for Data Analysis:

Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, SD) and inferential statistics (paired t-test and chi-square test) were used.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:

Table 1: Distribution of Adolescent Girls According to Demographic Variables (N = 60)

Variable	Category	Frequency	Percentage
Age	13–14 years	18	30%
	15–16 years	28	46.7%
	17–18 years	14	23.3%
Class	9th	20	33.3%
	10th	22	36.7%
	11th	18	30%
Source of Information	Teachers	15	25%
	Internet	25	41.7%
	Family	12	20%
	Friends	8	13.3%

Table 2: Comparison of Pre-test and Post-test Knowledge Scores

Test	Mean	SD
Pre-test	11.2	3.1
Post-test	21.8	2.9

Table 3: Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme (Paired t-Test)

Mean Difference	t-value	df	p-value
10.6	18.45	59	<0.001

Table 4: Association Between Pre-test Knowledge Scores and Demographic Variables

Variable	χ²	df	Result
Age	5.62	2	Not Significant
Class	6.48	2	Significant
Source of Information	7.12	3	Not Significant

DISCUSSION:

The findings of the study revealed that adolescent girls had inadequate knowledge regarding PCOS before the structured teaching programme. The significant improvement in post-test scores indicates the effectiveness of the teaching programme. These findings are consistent with previous studies highlighting the role of educational interventions in improving reproductive health knowledge among adolescents.

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that structured teaching programme was effective in improving knowledge regarding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome among adolescent girls. Early educational interventions can help in early diagnosis, prevention, and management of PCOS.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Conduct similar studies with larger samples.

Include attitude and practice components.

REFERENCES:

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Received on 17.01.2026 Revised on 13.02.2026

Accepted on 04.03.2026 Published on 02.05.2026

Available online from May 05, 2026

Int. J. of Advances in Nursing Management. 2026;14(2):107-110.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2026.00022

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