Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapy Use of Western Turkish Students for Menstrual Symptoms

• Published in: International journal of caring sciences Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 475 - 482
• Main Author: Kartal, Yasemin Aydin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nicosia Professor Despina Sapountzi - Krepia Publisher of the International Journal of Caring Sciences 01-01-2019
• Subjects: Age; Alternative medicine; Back pain; Dermatology; Gynecology; Health sciences; Menstruation; Midwifery; Nursing education; Obstetrics; Pain management; PMS; Premenstrual syndrome; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Students; Studies; Womens health; Turkey; Taiwan
• ISSN: 1791-5201; 1792-037X

Background: This study was conducted to determine the methods of complementary and alternative (CAM) use for the treatment of perimenstrual symptoms. Methods: The sample of this descriptive and analytical study consists of 198 midwifery students of Midwifery Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences of a public university who voluntarily participated in the study. The study data were collected through questionnaire form prepared by the researchers in accordance with literature and "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)". Results: It was determined that the average age of the students was 20,01±1,52, 70.7% of the students were experiencing dysmenorrhea, 70.7% were suffering from low back pain, 66.7% were experiencing irritability and unease. When the students with dysmenorrhea were assessed according to VAS, it was determined that 28.9% were exposed to severe and 58.6% to moderate pain. For the treatment of the perimenstrual symptoms, it was determined that that 38.2% of the students were using various analgesics, 61% were using hot application, 42.9% were having massage, 19.7% were drinking herbal tea and 11.6% were applying movement therapies (pilates). Conclusion: It was observed that the prevalence of the perimenstrual symptoms amongst the midwifery students is quite high and it was determined they preferred CAM methods more than medical treatment to treat these symptoms.