Speakers - 2026

Title: From research to action: Practical stakeholder-specific interventions to improve the menopausal experience of doctors

Abstract

Background: Our initial cross-sectional qualitative study exploring the experiences of UK doctors going through the menopause identified a range of barriers and facilitators influencing an improved menopausal experience. Two facilitators were also novel: non-occupational support streams and open discussion. Four barriers were novel, not previously explored in the literature: superhero mentality, unhelpful gender dynamics, archaic culture, and lack of support. These findings highlighted gaps across multiple stakeholder groups and the need for practical interventions to address these.

Objective: To translate qualitative findings into stakeholder-specific interventions designed to improve the workplace experience of UK doctors going through menopause.

Methods: Building on findings from semi-structured interviews with 21 menopausal and 20 non-menopausal doctors, four key stakeholders were identified: healthcare managers, non-menopausal doctors, medical students, and menopausal doctors. Interventions were developed to target each stakeholder group. To ensure effectiveness they were mapped to the barriers identified in the qualitative study, and delivered in practical, implementable formats.

Results:

Four interventions were produced:

1. Manager Training Session - session was conducted with healthcare managers to address the lack of discussion and workplace taboo surrounding menopause.
2. Educational Video for Non-Menopausal Doctors - an animated video raising awareness of how colleagues’ behaviours influence menopausal experiences in the workplace was created.
3. Case-Based Workshop for Medical Students - workshop was designed to educate medical students on menopause and its impact on work life, increasing awareness early in their careers.
4. Poster Campaign for Menopausal Doctors - poster was designed to be disseminated in workplace settings to encourage and foster an open environment where doctors feel empowered to speak up and share their experiences.

Conclusions: Translating insights from qualitative study into stakeholder-specific, real-world interventions is feasible and impactful. Early feedback suggests these resources can support culture change, enhance retention, and improve wellbeing among menopausal doctors. Other healthcare settings should review their own practices and consider implementing such interventions to improve the menopausal experience of doctors.

What will the audience take away from your presentation?

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing an improved menopausal experience for doctors in the workplace. Learn about the range of barriers and facilitators identified in our qualitative study and appreciate how these factors interact to shape doctors’ experiences, wellbeing, and engagement at work, whilst going through the menopause.
• Learn about our process of designing and developing targeted interventions for key stakeholders and implementing them in real-world settings. These interventions provide practical tools that attendees can adopt and adapt within their own healthcare environments, supporting staff retention and the wellbeing of doctors experiencing menopause.
• Hear about practical lessons and stakeholder feedback from applying these interventions, offering actionable guidance for implementing similar strategies in other professional or healthcare contexts, and insights into how to refine and improve them.
• Reflect on their own workplace setting and consider what can be done to improve the experience of doctors going through menopause, fostering a more supportive, inclusive, and open working environment.