• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.821-831
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• 1998

Management of perimenstrual discomfort could be an effective strategy for women's health promotion. This study was designed to develop and test the nursing intervention program for the reduction of the perimenstrual discomfort. The data were collected from a group of 76 female university students (34 in the intervention group, 42 in the control group) during November 20, 1997 and March 10, 1998. Measurements were taken concerning perimenstrual discomfort, self care behavior, and perimenstrual discomfort from both groups, at pre and post intervention. Intervention program involved education, support, counseling, and relaxation training, via individual and group levels over a twelve-week period. Listed are the summarized results : 1. The intervention group had more knowledge con corning perimenstrual discomfort(t=2.290, p=.025), self care behavior(t=3.198, p=.000), and lower perimenstrual discomfort score (t=-4.446, p=.000) than the control group at post intervention. 2. The intervention group showed an enhancement on the knowledge on perimenstrual discomport (t=2.35, p=.025), and decreased the perimenstrual discomfort score(t=-7.36, p=.000). However change of self care behavior was not significant during the intervention. According to this study a developed nursing intervention program is effective for reduction of the perimenstrual discomfort. For a future research, it is necessary that experiments concerning menstruation, and a correlational study of perimenstrual discomfort and stress ill be performed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.483-495
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the perimenstrual discomforts and dietary intake levels among normal women. Method: A prospective and descriptive study examined 38 women aged 23 46years of age. The data collection period lasted from April 1 to June 30, 2003. The participants were asked to keep a diary recording perimenstrual symptoms and food intake for 50 days. Results: There was a significant difference in physical symptoms of perimenstrual discomforts (F=6.95. p=.001). but there was no significant difference in dietary intake level according to three different phases of a menstrual cycle. The significant dietary intake variables correlated to PMS included energy, protein, Vitamin E, Vitamin $B_2$, niacin, Vitamin $B_6$, folic acid, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. They were negatively related to perimenstrual discomforts. Conclusion: Balanced diet intake will be necessary for not only the perimenstrual discomforts but also the general health promotion of the entire population. The dietary and nutritional assessment should be done prior to nursing interventions, and nutritional counseling and education should be given based on individual differences. In a further study, the effects of dietary composition on specific symptoms will be replicated with a large sample, and development of a diet intervention program for perimenstrual discomforts is recommended.

• 모자간호학회지
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.55-69
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• 1992

This study was planned and carried out 1) to identify the general menstrual characteristics, 2) to understand perimenstrual discomfort, menstrual attitude, and sex role acceptance, 3) to investigate the correlation between perimenstrual discomfort, menstrual attitude, sex role acceptance in order to provide basic information about menstruation. The subjects of this study were 313 college women and they were asked to check Menstrual Discomfort questionnaire, Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire, and Role Acceptance Scale. Data were gathered from April 1 to June 24, 1992. The results were as follows : 1) The mean age of the subjects was 19, and the mean age of monarch was 13.6 ranged from 11 to 19. The distribution of menstrual cycle showed a wide variation and the mean cycle was 29.7 days. The duration of menstrual cycle was between 2-8 days, and in 65.8% the amount of menstrual fluid was within normal limit. 2) The frequencies of perimenstrual discomfort was 56.9% when asked to check it on 5 point scale. 3) All scores of perimenstrual discomfort were higher on premenstrual period than intermenstrual period, and higher on menstrual period than premenstrual period. They were statistically significant. 4) In general, the college women perceived menstruation as natural, somewhat bothersome, and not very debilitating or predictable, although they did not deny that menstruation had some effects. 5) The correlation between perimenstrual discomfort and menstrual attitude was significant. 6) The correlation between perimenstrual discomfort and sex role acceptance was significant. 7) The correlation between menstrual attitude and sex role acceptance was significant.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of hand acupuncture for reduction of dysmenorrhea. 71 female middle school and high school students were selected as subjects from April to May 2001, among which 38 students consisted of the experimental group while 22 students were the control group by convenient assignment. The experimental group participated in hand acupuncture treatment. The experimental treatment was to puncture corresponding points(A4, A5, J1, J3, J23, H2, F7) on both the palm and back of a hand with disposable acupuncture needles and to remove needles after 20-30 minutes' recess during which the subjects reposed themselves on bed. The collected data were processed using the SPSS PC Program and analyzed using $X^2test$ and The results of this study were as follows 1. The symptoms of premenstrual syndrome have decreased, but no significant differences were statistically observed between hand-acupunctured group and non-hand acupunctured group. 2. Subjective pain degree has decreased after hand acupuncture. 3. As for objective pain degree, a significant reduction in voice change was observed between two groups. Facial expressional changes and perspiration degree reduced but showed no significant statistically changes between two groups. 4. Comfort has increased after hand acupuncture. These results suggest that the hand acupuncture therapy works effectively on easing menstrual pain and symptoms as well as partially on reducing discomfort. It is particularly efficacious for a reduction in subjective pain and facial expressional changes in positive respect. Therefore the hand acupuncture therapy can be considered as an independent nursing intervention for dysmenorrhea reduction.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.415-423
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• 2003

Purpose: This study aims to examine whether the kinesio tape method can relax perimenstrual symptoms and decrease the menstrual pain of those who complain of perimenstrual discomforts. Method: This study has been designed to use the nonequivalent control group in the pre and post-test. The data have been collected from unmarried females complaining of perimenstrual discomfort and living in D city from the 2nd of February through the 10th of April, 2002. An experimental group of 32 people and a control group of 35 people were chosen, and they were first investigated for symptoms before and after menstruation when the menstrual pain was the severest and for the VAS measurement of menstrual pain. For the experimental group, the kinesio tape method was conducted two times a week for three weeks (six times in all), and the control group remained intact. The investigations after the experimental treatment were carried out in the same way as before. The measuring instruments were the peri menstrual measuring instruments of symptoms of 42 items and the menstrual pain was measured by VAS Result: The primary hypothesis: The experimental group who used the kinesio tape method would experience less perimenstrual discomfort than the control group who did not use it. The first sub-hypothesis: The first sub-hypothesis that suggests 'The experimental group who used the kinesio tape method would experience more relaxation of perimenstrual symptom than the control group who did not use it' was supported. The second sub-hypothesis: The second sub-hypothesis that suggests that 'The experimental group who used the kinesio tape method would get lower scores of menstrual pain of VAS than the control group who did not use it' was supported. Conclusion: These results of the study show that the kinesio tape method is effective in relaxing perimenstrual symptoms and lessening menstrual pain.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 1998

This study was performed to compare the transcultural differences on perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes and sex role acceptance between Korean and American college students. The subjects, 2557 nursing students were selected from 13 universities all around Korea, and 4 universities in the eastern, western, and middle areas of the United States. The data were collected using the MDQ (Menstrual Distress Questionnaire by Moos), the MAQ(Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire), and the Sex Role Acceptance Scale, the subjects answered the MDQ for three points (premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual based on their recollections) between July, 1996 and April, 1997. The findings are as follows : 1. There were significant differences in the age of menarche, duration of menstruation, and menstrual cycle between the Koreans and the Americans. 2. As for sex role acceptance, Americans more frequently denied the traditional female role than did Koreans. 3. There were significant differences between the two groups on five categories of menstrual attitude (menstruation is a phenomena that weakens women physically and psychologically, menstruation is a bothersome phenomena, menstruation is a natural phenomena, menstruation onset is a predictable phenomena, and menstruation is a phenomena that does not influence womens' behaviors non is expected to). 4. For the menstrual discomfort scores, there were significant differences between the two groups on all six categories of the MDQ(pain, attention deficit, behavioral changes, AMS response, water retention, and negative emotion) for the three points (premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual period). 5. The most common complaints for the Korean women were pain during the perimenstrual period and fatigue during the intermenstrual period. In contrast, for the Americans the most common complaint was negative emotions during the perimenstrual period, but less pain than the Koreans, and a similarity to Koreans during the intermenstrual period. 6. Regularity of the menstrual cycle was positively correlated with age of menarche, menstrual cycle, and duration of menstruation. 7 For the interrelationship between of Perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes, and sex role acceptance, there were significant correlations for both group as follows : First, the MA category "menstruation is a bothering phenomena" was negatively correlated with sex role acceptance, second, the MA category "menstruation is a phenomena that weakens the women physically and psychologically" was positively correlated with the MA category "menstruation onset is a predictable phenomena." For the further research, it is recommended that efficient nursing intervention programs for perimenstrual discomforts, be developed and qualitative research to demonstrate the cultural differences as the feminism view point be done.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2006

Purpose: To identify perimenstrual discomforts, coping and relief of symptoms in female workers. Methods: A convenience sample of 203 women who had worked were obtained from two hospitals in Busan. Data were collected through questionnaires from November 8 to 16, 2004. Three instruments were used in this study: the Perimenstrual Discomfort Questionnaire by Park(1988) and the Menstrual Coping Questionnaire and the Relief of Symptoms by Billings & Moos(1981) modified for this study. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA with SPSS 10.0 program. Results: The prevalence rate of dysmenorrhea was 81.3%. The total mean score for perimenstrual discomforts was 2.83 out of a possible total of 5 and the mean score for each category was, 3.08 for water retention, 2.95 for pain, 2.88 for negative affect, 2.83 for behavioral change, 2.73 for autonomic reactions, and 2.51 for concentration. According to these study results, statistical differences were found for age(F=2.76, p=0.04), feeling to menstruation(F=3.94, p=0.00), dysmenorrhea(t=4.26, p=0.00), and taking medication(t=2.09, p=0.00). The coping modes with the highest scores were 'take a hot bath'(99.0%)', 'rest and go to bed'(83.7%), 'regard menstruation as a physiological and temporary phenomenon'(76.8%), 'take a warm shower'(65.0%). The most frequently used methods to relieve symptoms were 'rest and go to bed'(70.0%), 'take a warm shower'(57.6%), 'take pain killers'(49.8%), 'apply hot water bag on painful parts of the body'(46.8%). Conclusion: Further research is needed to understand perimenstrual discomforts and the variables associated with them. Nursing intervention has to be considered in any program aiming to reduce perimenstrual discomforts.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.224-244
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• 1993

This study was designed to develop and test a model of the theoretical structure of factors influencing womens’ attitudes toward menstruation, specifically, premenstrual discomfort or pain, negative affect, disability and role acceptance. The conceptual framework was built through a review of the literature. For the purpose of testing the model, data were collected from April to June, 1992 with the use of Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire, Sex Role Acceptance Scale. Data analysis was done with the SPSS PC/sup +/ for descriptive statistics and PC-LXSREL 7.13 for covariance structure. The study subjects consisted of 320 women college students in 2 three-year nursing junior colleges and 1 department of nursing of a college of medicine. The mean age of the subjects was 19, the mean age at monarch was 13.7, the mean menstrual cycle was 29.7 days and the mean menstrual duration was 5.3 days. The amount of menstrual discharge was moderate and the menstrual cycle variability was within 3 days. The score for pain, negative affect and disability were higher during the perimenstrual period than intermenstrual period. The fit of the hypothetical model with the six paths and the empirical data was high [X²(df=4)=. 57 (P=.966), GFI =.999, AGFI =.997, RMR=.008]. The hypotheses were supported on acceptable level of significance. 1) The higher the pain and negative affect, the stronger the disability. 2) The higher the pain, negative affect and disability, the more negative the attitudes toward menstruation. 3) The lower the women's role acceptance, the more negative the attitudes toward menstruation. The model was supported by the empirical data, and thus these results may help nurses and nursing scientists to understand and support these phenomena of womens’ health experience.