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Traditional Chinese Medical Care Application Patterns Among Nurses With Menstrual Symptoms: A Q Methodology
Shu-He Huang1, Shu-Chuan Yu2, Shun-Fen Chen3
1Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Nursing Open
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Nurses utilize traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for menstrual symptom relief, prioritizing pain management and healthy lifestyles. Five distinct patterns of TCM application were identified, highlighting its role in reproductive health for healthcare professionals.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Nursing Health
- Women's Health
Background:
- Menstrual symptoms significantly impact nurses' well-being and professional capacity.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers alternative approaches to managing gynecological health concerns.
- Understanding nurses' perspectives on TCM is crucial for tailored healthcare interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) care application among nurses experiencing menstrual symptoms.
- To explore the nuanced perspectives of nurses regarding the use of TCM for managing menstrual health.
- To investigate how occupational context influences TCM use for menstrual symptom management in nursing professionals.
Main Methods:
- Q methodology was employed, involving 60 nurses who ranked 41 Q-statements via Q sorting.
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the subjective viewpoints and identify shared perspectives.
- Data collection was conducted electronically, with analysis performed using PQMethod 2.35 software.
Main Results:
- Five distinct patterns of TCM application were identified, explaining 44.14% of the total variance.
- These patterns include seeking non-pharmacological pain relief, prioritizing lifestyle, trusting TCM for reproductive health, using TCM for daily functioning, and exploring diverse TCM therapies.
- The findings reveal multifaceted approaches nurses take to integrate TCM into their menstrual symptom management strategies.
Conclusions:
- This study successfully identified five shared perspective patterns regarding TCM use for menstrual symptoms among nurses.
- The research highlights the unique position of nurses as both healthcare providers and individuals managing personal health challenges.
- These identified patterns provide valuable insights into how nurses incorporate TCM within their professional and personal lives, informing future research and practice.
