CLOUD
THE CLOUD-BASED FLO APP BOOSTS WOMEN ’ S HEALTH LITERACY , EMPOWERING INFORMED DECISIONS AND IMPROVING WELL-BEING
A groundbreaking randomised controlled trial ( RCT ) has demonstrated that the Flo app , the # 1 most downloaded women ’ s health app with 70 million global monthly active users , significantly improves health literacy and further helps women improve how they manage their PMS and PMDD symptoms after using Flo for three months . Working in collaboration with experts at Johns Hopkins University , the University of Virginia , and Texas Christian University , the study highlights the crucial role of health literacy in empowering women and promoting gender equality .
Health literacy is defined as the ability to access , understand and use health information to make informed decisions . It is crucial for maintaining good health for individuals , families , and communities . Low menstrual health literacy has been linked to inadequate self-care , reduced physical and mental well-being , and limitations in daily activities . The World
Health Organization ( WHO ) emphasises that health literacy is central to achieving gender equality and empowerment . In its inaugural Health Literacy Report , Flo identified stark knowledge gaps as well as women ’ s desire to improve their health literacy , with 70 % of US women wanting to grow their knowledge of women ’ s health .
Flo offers a comprehensive suite of features , including menstrual cycle and symptom tracking , a library of medically reviewed health content and a safe and supportive community for health discussions . When women have access to these tools , their health knowledge improves , as do many other measures of health . Flo ’ s first RCT now demonstrates that these gaps can be addressed through the use of Flo , with its extensive medically reviewed content library covering many aspects of women ’ s health .
The RCT revealed that women generally have low levels of health knowledge . However , after using the Flo app for 12 weeks , participants reported significant improvements compared with the control group in several key areas :
• Improved understanding of reproductive health
• Enhanced awareness of menstrual cycle patterns and symptoms
In addition to improved knowledge , the study also found improvements in the following areas after using the Flo app for 12 weeks :
• Better self-reported general health and well-being
• Increased confidence in managing health
• Improved discussions about health with others
• Decreased feelings of shame or embarrassment about menstruation
• Reduced anxiety about unintended pregnancies
In a separate trial focusing on Premenstrual Syndrome ( PMS ) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ( PMDD ), after using the Flo app for three months , participants reported significant improvements compared with the control group who did not use the app :
• Reduced PMS / PMDD symptom burden
• Decreased time off work or study with 1.6 fewer days of absenteeism on average
• Improved knowledge about PMS and PMDD
These findings are of a particular importance as nearly half of women with periods across the globe have PMS , and nearly one in 10 have PMDD . Together , these two reproductive health conditions have a greater impact on quality of life than type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in terms of pain . �
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