Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece
Dysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation) is one of the most common medical conditions among women of reproductive age. Dysmenorrhea has been studied around the world but not yet in Greece. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of dysmenorrhea on t...
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doaj-305dca63d4f6472795726d369d3c56fc2020-11-24T21:28:34ZengMDPI AGDiseases2079-97212019-01-0171510.3390/diseases7010005diseases7010005Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in GreeceEugenia Vlachou0Dimitra Anna Owens1Maria Lavdaniti2John Kalemikerakis3Eleni Evagelou4Nikoletta Margari5Georgia Fasoi6Eftychia Evangelidou7Ourania Govina8Athanasios N. Tsartsalis9Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreecePsychologist, MSc, 19009 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, 57400 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Infection Control, G.N.N. Ionias “Konstantopouleio—Patision” hospital, 14233 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nursing, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Endocrinology—Diabetes and Metabolism, Naval Hospital of Athens, 11521 Athens, GreeceDysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation) is one of the most common medical conditions among women of reproductive age. Dysmenorrhea has been studied around the world but not yet in Greece. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of dysmenorrhea on the wellbeing (exercising, and social and academic functioning) among nursing students in Greece. A cross-sectional study of 637 nursing students was conducted by administering a questionnaire at a university in Athens. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 89.2% and the rate of severe intensity was 52.5%. Factors that were associated with severe dysmenorrhea were family history (p = 0.02), early menarche (p = 0.05) and menstruation duration (p = 0.05). Women with moderate and severe pain reported using pain relievers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol etc., p < 0.0005). Finally, activities affected by severe pain were class attendance (p = 0.01), personal studying (p < 0.0005), exercising (p < 0.0005), and socializing (p < 0.0005). Exam attendance (p = 0.27) and clinical placement attendance (p = 0.48) were not affected by severe dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea has a high prevalence among nursing students and seems to affect important aspects of wellbeing and academic performance when the pain intensity is severe. The present findings lay the foundation for further investigation of dysmenorrhea both in the Greek population and cross-culturally.http://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/7/1/5dysmenorrheaprevalencepain intensitymenstruationwellbeingassociated factorsnursing studentsGreece |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Eugenia Vlachou Dimitra Anna Owens Maria Lavdaniti John Kalemikerakis Eleni Evagelou Nikoletta Margari Georgia Fasoi Eftychia Evangelidou Ourania Govina Athanasios N. Tsartsalis |
spellingShingle |
Eugenia Vlachou Dimitra Anna Owens Maria Lavdaniti John Kalemikerakis Eleni Evagelou Nikoletta Margari Georgia Fasoi Eftychia Evangelidou Ourania Govina Athanasios N. Tsartsalis Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece Diseases dysmenorrhea prevalence pain intensity menstruation wellbeing associated factors nursing students Greece |
author_facet |
Eugenia Vlachou Dimitra Anna Owens Maria Lavdaniti John Kalemikerakis Eleni Evagelou Nikoletta Margari Georgia Fasoi Eftychia Evangelidou Ourania Govina Athanasios N. Tsartsalis |
author_sort |
Eugenia Vlachou |
title |
Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece |
title_short |
Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece |
title_full |
Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece |
title_fullStr |
Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece |
title_full_unstemmed |
Prevalence, Wellbeing, and Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea among University Nursing Students in Greece |
title_sort |
prevalence, wellbeing, and symptoms of dysmenorrhea among university nursing students in greece |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Diseases |
issn |
2079-9721 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
Dysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation) is one of the most common medical conditions among women of reproductive age. Dysmenorrhea has been studied around the world but not yet in Greece. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of dysmenorrhea on the wellbeing (exercising, and social and academic functioning) among nursing students in Greece. A cross-sectional study of 637 nursing students was conducted by administering a questionnaire at a university in Athens. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 89.2% and the rate of severe intensity was 52.5%. Factors that were associated with severe dysmenorrhea were family history (p = 0.02), early menarche (p = 0.05) and menstruation duration (p = 0.05). Women with moderate and severe pain reported using pain relievers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol etc., p < 0.0005). Finally, activities affected by severe pain were class attendance (p = 0.01), personal studying (p < 0.0005), exercising (p < 0.0005), and socializing (p < 0.0005). Exam attendance (p = 0.27) and clinical placement attendance (p = 0.48) were not affected by severe dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea has a high prevalence among nursing students and seems to affect important aspects of wellbeing and academic performance when the pain intensity is severe. The present findings lay the foundation for further investigation of dysmenorrhea both in the Greek population and cross-culturally. |
topic |
dysmenorrhea prevalence pain intensity menstruation wellbeing associated factors nursing students Greece |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/7/1/5 |
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