Dysmenorrhoea, menstrual attitude and GP consultation

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Women's Health
• Menstrual Health

Background:

• Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, is a common gynecological issue affecting many women.
• Understanding the prevalence, treatment-seeking behaviors, and attitudes towards dysmenorrhea is crucial for improving care.
• Previous research suggests a link between menstrual attitudes and healthcare utilization, but this needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and types of dysmenorrhea treatment utilized by undergraduate nursing students.
• To explore the relationship between menstrual attitudes and seeking general practitioner (GP) consultation for dysmenorrhea.
• To assess student satisfaction with different dysmenorrhea treatment sources.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 70 undergraduate nursing students.
• Data were collected on dysmenorrhea prevalence, menstrual attitudes, treatment sources, and satisfaction levels.
• Statistical analyses were used to examine associations between variables.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of dysmenorrhea was observed, unrelated to sociodemographic or health variables.
• The dominant menstrual attitudes were 'bothersome' and 'anticipation and prediction'.
• Most students used self-care or lay treatments, reporting high satisfaction. Less than a third consulted a GP, with two-thirds dissatisfied with GP-provided treatment.

Conclusions:

• Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among nursing students, with a strong preference for self-management.
• General practitioner consultation for dysmenorrhea yields low satisfaction rates, indicating a potential gap in care.
• Further research should explore barriers to effective GP treatment and develop improved interventions for dysmenorrhea management.