Effect of Reflexotherapy on Controlling Primary Dysmenorrhea among Faculty Nursing Students

Hashem, Shimaa Mohmed Zaky; Ahmed, Manal Hassan; Zaky:, Nevertity Hassan; El-Adham, Azza Fouad

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2018.71033

Effect of Reflexotherapy on Controlling Primary Dysmenorrhea among Faculty Nursing Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant lecturer of Maternity and Gynecological Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University

² Professor of Maternity and Gynecological Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University

³ Assistant Professor of Maternity and Gynecological Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

⁴ :Lecturer of Maternity and Gynecological Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University

10.21608/tsnj.2018.71033

Abstract

Primary dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecologic disorder among female adolescents, with a prevalence of 60% to 93%. It leads to several problems in the personal and social life of the female adolescents. Adverse effects of medical treatments and its failure rate of 20-25% have caused many females to seek other complementary and alternative methods for the management of primary dysmenorrhea. Reflexotherapy is one of such methods. So, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of reflexotherapy on controlling primary dysmenorrhea among Faculty Nursing Students. The study was conducted at Faculty Nursing, Tanta University. The total number of study sample was 120 female students from the second year of Faculty Nursing Students who fulfilling the inclusive criteria. Four tools were used for the collection of data: Tool I: Sociodemographic and menstrual history structured interview schedule. Tool II, Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Tool III, Modified McGill Pain Questionnaire Short form (MPQ-SF). Tool IV, Physiological and behavioral responses to pain sheet. The results of this study revealed that after the application of reflexotherapy, the intensity of menstrual pain had a significant decrease among the study group compared to the control group 1st ,2nd and 3rd months post intervention, as well as the intensity of sensory and affective menstrual pain descriptors. In addition the physiological and behavioral responses to menstrual pain were significantly improved. Therefore, the study recommended that reflexotherapy can be used in the management of primary dysmenorrhea and menstruation-related symptoms as this method is noninvasive, easy to perform, and free from the potentially adverse effects of analgesics.

Keywords