| Summary: | 碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 護理學研究所 === 90 === Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of acupressure at Sanyinjiao (SP6) upon pain, anxiety, blood pressure, respiration rate, pulse rate,menstrual distress and attitude to menstruation of adolescent girls with primary dysmenorrhea. The study made use of an experimental design incorporating a random assignment, with study participants consisting of female students attending a technical college in Tainan county. All participants had no prior history of gynecological disease or secondary dysmenorrhea. Further, the study enrolled only subjects that scored higher than a score of five on the Visual-Analog Scale for Pain (VASP) arising from their particular medical condition. A total of 69 subjects participated in this study, of which 35 were assigned to the experimental and 34 to the control group. The experimental group was subjected to acupressure at SP6 for 20 minutes, while subjects in the control group were required to rest in bed in the school health center for 20 minutes without receiving any treatment. Fifty subjects had completed the four to six-week follow-up period, of which 30 from the experimental group and 20 from the control group. Six instruments were will be used to collect data: 1) the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VASP), 2) the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ-SF), 3) the Menstrual-Distress Questionnaire (MDQ), 4) the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VASA), 5) the Adolescent Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (AMAQ) and 6) the Acupressure Self-Assessment Form. Statistical analysis of all collected data was performed using the chi-square test, two-sample t test and repeated measures two-way ANOVA. Results revealed a significant reduction of menstrual pain levels following the application of acupressure at SP6 performed by the researcher for a period of 20 minutes, the level of heavy pain, tiring-exhaustion and fear during menstruation, and anxiety level during menstruation were also noted to significantly decrease. No significant differences in menstrual distress, pulse rate, respiration rate and blood pressure were found for both groups. In four to six-week follow-up, the application of acupressure at SP6 for a period of 20 minutes by those participants, there was significant decrease in the levels of aching, heavy pain and fear during menstruation. It was found that acupressure at SP6 significantly improved subjects’ menstrual attitude. No significant differences were found in anxiety and menstrual distress subsequent to applying acupressure for 20 minutes. The results of this study can be used as a reference for self-care of primary dysmenorrhea. Acupressure at SP6 can be integrated into clinical practice and health education, in order to enhance the quality of life of adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea.
|
|---|
