• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.162-175
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• 1999

The study was intended to investigate and explore the preimenstrual symptoms, their severity levels, their patterns and the relationships of the age to those symptoms and patterns among Korean women. The data were collected from 844 women in one highschool, one Nursing college and one Korea National Open University in Seoul, from Nov, 1997 to Jun. 1998. The instruments were the Menstrual Symptoms Questionnaire developed by Chesney and the Center for Epidemiologic studies Depression scale developed by Radloff. the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Duncan's multiple comparison test, $X^2$-test, simple regression analysis and logistic regression analysis using pc-SAS program. The results were as follows ; 1. Korean women had more symptoms of abdominal bloating, fatigue, abdominal discomfort and backache in perimenstrual period. There Teenages had more symptoms of depression and uterine cramps in the day before or the first day of menstruation. Women in their twenties had more symptoms of abdominal pain or abdominal discomfort, backache, abdominal bloating and the sensitiveness /discomforts in the lower back, abdomen and inner part of thighs. women in their thirties had more symptoms of abdominal bloating, fatigue, tension and nervousness before the menstruation, abdominal discomfort and backpain in the first day of menstruation. Women in their forties had more symptoms of backache, breast discomforts, abdominal pain and discomforts. 2. The severity levels of the perimenstrual symptoms showed the highest score(mean=2.73) in twenties and the lowest score)mean=1.96) in forties The perimenstrual symptom patterns were prevailed the spasmodic menstrual symptoms in teenage and twenties and the congestive menstrual symptoms in thirties and forties. The age was a determinant of perimenstrual symptom patterns and the precipitative equation was log[p(age)/(1-p(age)]=2.7356-0.0982 age. 3. The relationship of the age to perimenstrual symptoms was vanished or lessened, controlling for parity as a test factor. this finding supports the notion that parity is an extraneous variable.

• 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.17 no.2
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• pp.212-223
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate work stress and identify the various factors affecting stress in married women in working manufacturing industries. Data were collected between March 31 and June 28, 2003 from 266 married women working in 10 manufacturing industries in Korea. The self-administered questionnaire included general characteristics. social support, and work stress. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Cronbach's alpha. SPSS/win 11.0 was used to assist analysis. The results of the study are as follows: 1. Scores for work stress in the field of sub-categories 2. Perceived work stress was significantly different according to salary, behavior type, discomfort related to menstruation, consumption, duty type, job stability, weekly work time and family, 3. Social support had a significant negative relationship with work stress. Accordingly, stress management for married working women will be more successful if interventions not only address each person's unique needs, for example, control of perimenstrual discomforts and health behavior change, but also are accompanied by organizational management strategies and policies, for example, improvement of work environment and nursery facilities.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to provide preliminary data for menstrual education and research for the early adolescents. Methods: Participants were 320 middle school students in Gangreung city. Data collection was done from May 1 to May 30, 2004 by self administered questionnaires. Results: In recollecting of menarche experiences, students felt more negative (happy 18.5%, confused 72.6%, embarrassed 82.2%, angry 38.1%, proud 26.2%, excited 15.6%, surprised 54.7%). For menarche preparation, there was a low level of explanations & knowledge of menstruation, and preparedness for menarche. Key informants regarding menstruation experiences were the mother and school teacher. The mean age of menarche was 12.3years old. 66.6% had premenstrual symptoms, and the mean score of VAS for dysmennorrhea was 4.50. Significant variables related to the VAS score were embarrassed of menarche experience(F=3.38, p=.019), preparedness for menarche(F=2.86, p=.038), and premenstrual symptoms(t=63.36, p.000), Conclusion: Preparation for a positive menarche experience prior to menarche is necessary. More active menstrual education should be given for early adolescents in the school and family setting. Replication studies in other regions and developing a menstrual education program is recommended. Systematic examinations of perimenstrual discomforts for early adolescents should be followed.