Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Menstrual discomforts;
• Coping

• 월경 불편감;
• 대처;
• 증상완화;