Digital Health Applications in the Management of Menopause and Osteoporosis
Chapter from the book:
Bulut,
Ö.
Ü.
(ed.)
2026.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Women's Health: Digital and Innovative Healthcare Applications.
Synopsis
Menopause is a natural process involving multidimensional changes in women's lives, affecting physiological, psychological, and social aspects. Osteoporosis, one of the most critical health issues during this period, is characterized as a “silent” disease marked by a decrease in bone mineral density and an increased risk of fractures due to estrogen deficiency. Today, digital health services offer digital health applications as a strategic solution for managing menopause and osteoporosis. This book chapter examines the features, areas of usage, advantages and disadvantages of digital applications used in the management of menopause and osteoporosis, as well as the roles of nurses, in light of the current literature. A literature review revealed that menopause-specific applications often focus on vasomotor symptom tracking, cognitive behavioral therapy exercises, and pelvic floor muscle training, while osteoporosis-specific applications offer fracture risk assessment, medication management, bone-friendly nutrition, and exercise coaching. Digital health applications facilitate access to information by eliminating time and location constraints, strengthen women's self-management skills, and enable continuous communication with healthcare professionals. However, the low level of clinical evidence and lack of scientific validation processes for most existing applications are among the disadvantages. Nurses play a key role in increasing digital health literacy, selecting evidence-based applications, and integrating care processes with these technologies. Dijital health applications designed under the leadership of nurses and with the active participation of women have high potential for ensuring well-being and quality of life during menopause and reducing complications related to osteoporosis.
