Dysmenorrhea and Self Pain Management of Nursing Students

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea is the problem that effect on the quality of life in female adolescence, however there was limitation information of dysmenorrhea and self-care of nursing students. The aim of this cross-sectional descriptive design was to study the prevalence, symptoms of dysmenorrhea, and self-care management strategies in a group of nursing students. A simple random sample of 202 nursing students was included in the study. The instrument for collecting data comprised 3 parts included general personal data, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Thai version, and self-care of pain management. The mean age of the participants was 21.02 ± 1.23 years. Most students had experienced dysmenorrhea (92.7%). Menstrual pain was frequently initiated on the first day of menstruation (92.5%). The mean pain intensity of dysmenorrhea was the worst pain (mean = 5.4, SD ± 2.9) and an average pain (mean = 3.9, SD ± 1.7). Pain interference levels were moderate, with the mean ranging from 3.9 to 5.4, an affect was the highest mean of interference (mean = 5.4, SD ± 2.9). Of 48% of participants took medications to relive their pain; self-seeking was the main information source for this self-care strategy. Most of participant applied non-pharmacology for relive their pain by using various self-care pain management strategies, some reported moderate pain. Nursing student should, therefore, be educated and counseled to determine the underlying cause and to increase the use of an effective treatment method.