Abstract
BackgroundDysmenorrhea is a common problem that affects female students’ quality of life and academic activities. Complementary and alternative therapies (CATs) are used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. This study investigated the practices and perceptions of female undergraduate students with dysmenorrhea towards CATs.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted among undergraduate pharmacy students in a public university in Malaysia using a validated and pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. The study was conducted in November and December 2019. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.ResultsOf the 318 female undergraduate students invited, 219 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 68.9%) with 52% aged between 21 and 23 years. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 72.1%, and the prevalence of ever-use and current use of CATs was 70.3 and 54.4%, respectively. Bed rest (71.5%), hot compress/heating pad (47.5%) and massage (43.0%) were the most common CATs used by the respondents. The most common reasons for using CAT were to reduce the need for analgesics (61.4%), efficacy (37.3%) and recommendation by others (32.9%). About 23 and 9% of the respondents believed that CATs were equally “effective” and “more effective” than analgesics, respectively. Reducing the need for analgesics (AOR: 4.066, 95% CI: 2.136–7.739) and those who agreed that CATs are effective (AOR: 2.701, 95% CI: 1.337–5.457) were independently associated with the current use CATs for the treatment of menstrual pain.ConclusionThe prevalence of ever-use and current use of CATs is high among female undergraduate pharmacy students. Bed rest and heat applications are the most common CATs used. Reducing the need for analgesics and efficacy are the factors associated with the current use of CATs. Students should be educated about the safe and effective use of CATs to reduce adverse effects and improve their quality of life.
Highlights
Dysmenorrhea is a common problem that affects female students’ quality of life and academic activities
Factors associated with the current use of complementary and alternative therapies Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that students with multiple symptoms of dysmenorrhea (OR: 2.377, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.366– 4.136, P = 0.002), those who use analgesics (OR: 2.317, 95% CI: 1.369–4.129, P = 0.004), those who want to reduce the need for analgesics (OR: 5.557, 95% CI: 3.099–9.967, P < 0.001) and those who agreed that Complementary and alternative therapies (CATs) are effective for the treatment of dysmenorrhea (OR: 3.233, 95% CI: 1.740–6.007, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the current use of CATs for the treatment of dysmenorrhea
Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that those who want to reduce the need for analgesics (AOR: 4.066, 95% CI: 2.136–7.739) and those who agreed that CATs are effective for the treatment of dysmenorrhea (AOR: 2.701, 95% CI: 1.337– 5.457) were independently associated with the current use CATs for the treatment of dysmenorrhea (Table 5)
Summary
Dysmenorrhea is a common problem that affects female students’ quality of life and academic activities. Complementary and alternative therapies (CATs) are used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. This study investigated the practices and perceptions of female undergraduate students with dysmenorrhea towards CATs. Dysmenorrhea is a public health problem that affects adolescent girls and women of child bearing age [1]. Dysmenorrhea is classified into primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. In primary dysmenorrhea there is no underlying uterine pathology while secondary dysmenorrhea is associated with pelvic pathology [2]. Factors that increase the risk of dysmenorrhea include a positive family history, age, stress, age at menarche, obesity, irregular cycle, long cycle, and heavy bleeding as well as skipping breakfast, eating snacks, smoking and alcohol use [1, 3,4,5]. The condition causes symptoms such as lower abdominal cramp, low back pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache and fatigue, as well as emotional instability, loss of appetite, sleeplessness and depression [1, 3, 4, 6, 7]
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