PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of auricular acupressure on menstrual pain, dysmenorrhea and academic stress among college students.
METHODS
A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 57 female students recruited from one college. The treatment group (n=30) received an auricular acupressure on a valid zone and the control group (n=27) received an auricular acupressure on an invalid zone (placebo). The independent t-test and chi2-test were used to examine group differences by using SPSS/Win18.0.
RESULTS
Subjects in the treatment group reported much less menstrual pain of premenstrual day (p=.001), 1st day (p<.001), 2nd day (p=.003), and dysmenorrhea (p=.003). Of significance, participants in the treatment group reported much less academic stress (p=.049) following auricular acupressure.
CONCLUSION
The findings support that auricular acupressure is effective in controlling menstrual pain and academic stress related to menstruation. As the method is simple it would be useful for women students to be taught and encouraged to utilize this method to mitigate the symptoms related to menstruation through self care.

Citations

• Effect of Auriculotherapy on Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Sunyeob Choi, Bomi Kim
  Journal of Holistic Nursing.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Using Acudetox for Stress Reduction in College Students: A Brief Intervention Strategy for College Counselors
  Elisabeth Tomlin
  Journal of Creativity in Mental Health.2022; 17(2): 188.     CrossRef
• Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Constipation in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Control Trial
  Jeongran Shin, Hyojung Park
  Western Journal of Nursing Research.2018; 40(1): 67.     CrossRef
• Effects of Auricular Acupressure Therapy on Stress and Sleep Disturbance of Middle-Aged Women in South Korea
  Nam Hyun Cha, Yi Kyun Park, Sohyune R. Sok
  Holistic Nursing Practice.2017; 31(2): 102.     CrossRef
• Acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea
  Caroline A Smith, Mike Armour, Xiaoshu Zhu, Xun Li, Zhi Yong Lu, Jing Song
  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.2016;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effects of the Auricular Acupressure on Pruritus and Fatigue in Hemodialysis Patients
  Youngmi Chun, Sangyoun Park
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2016; 28(4): 436.     CrossRef
• Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Menstrual Pain, Difficulties in Daily Life, Negative Feelings and Autonomic Nervous Responses in Female College Students
  Nan Young Kim, Min A Kim, So Eun Choi
  Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science.2015; 17(2): 159.     CrossRef
• Effects of Auricular Acupressure Therapy on Back Pain and Lower Abdominal Pain in Female Undergraduate Students during Menstruation
  
  Journal of East-West Nursing Research.2015; 21(2): 103.     CrossRef
• Effects of SP-6 Seoam Pellet Therapy on Menstrual pain, Menstrual distress and Difficulty of ADL in Female University Students
  In Kyung Kim, Ji Hyun Kim
  Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2014; 28(2): 187.     CrossRef
• Effects of Auricular Acupressure Therapy on Nocturia and Insomnia in the Elderly
  Ji Yeon Kim, Hye Sook Ryu, Seok Hoon Nam, Kyung Sook Park
  The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing.2014; 17(1): 1.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study was designed to identify the effect of auriculotherapy on low abdominal pain and dysmenorrhea in school-aged girls.
METHODS
This design was a pre and post-test with nonequivalent groups. The subjects were 71 girls who were middle school students with dysmenorrheal (35 students for the treatment group and 36 students for the comparison group). The subjects of the treatment group received auriculotherapy once a week for 10 weeks. The comparison group received instruction on auriculotherapy and was requested waiting for the order.
RESULTS
The treatment group reported significantly less low abdominal pain than the comparison group. However, there were not statistical differences in reported dysmenorrhea. In future analysis, 60.0% of the treatment group reported more physical comfort, and 45.7% reported more emotional cool down.
CONCLUSION
The finding indicate that auriculotherapy could be effective in decreasing low abdominal pain during menstrual periods. Therefore, auriculotherapy could be an effective nursing intervention for low abdominal pain occurring during mensuration. However, further studies need to be done to support auriculotherapy as effective.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is difference in the effects of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea by research design.
METHODS
Findings from the two different research designs (Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest [NCG] design vs. two-group crossover design) were compared in regard to the effect of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea. The subjects of the NCG design and the crossover design were a total of 58 female nursing students. The treatments (aroma essential oil inhalation and carrier oil inhalation) were given using a necklace. The data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test, and Shapiro-Wilk test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. The effect size for the two research designs was calculated.
RESULTS
In both research designs, the level of dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain after the aroma treatment were not significantly different from those after the placebo treatment. The effect size of the NCG design was higher than that of the crossover design.
CONCLUSION
Aroma inhalation may not be effective in managing dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain. In order to further clarify the efficiency of research design and the effect of aromatherapy on discomfort during menstruation, replication studies are necessary. Future studies need to examine the effects of different research design on non-interval variables.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain, anxiety, and depression in female college students.
METHODS
A two-group cross-over design was used. The sample included a total of 20 female students who were enrolled in a 3 year nursing program. The treatments(aroma essential oil inhalation and the placebo inhalation) were given using a necklace. The data were analyzed by chi-square-test, paired t-test, and Mann-Whitney test using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program.
RESULTS
The level of dysmenorrhea after the aroma treatment was not significantly different from the dysmenorrhea levels at pre-test and after the post-placebo treatment. The menstrual pain, anxiety and depression significantly improved after the aroma treatment. However, the levels of pain, anxiety, and depression after the aroma treatment were not significantly different from those after the placebo treatment.
CONCLUSION
Aroma inhalation may be a effective in managing menstrual pain, anxiety, and depression. In order to further clarify the effect of aroma treatment on discomfort during menstruation, replication studies are necessary. Future studies need to examine the effects of different types of essential oils, administrating methods, and the lasting time of aroma treatment effect.

PURPOSE
This study was to examine the differences in the degree of premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, and stress according to the gender role identity of female university students.
METHODS
Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 308 female university students. Data analysis was done with SPSS 10.1 for descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Duncan's multiple-range test.
RESULTS
The most prevalent type of premenstrual syndrome was androgenic(33.8%), followed by undifferentiated(25.0%). There was a significant difference in dysmenorrhea according to residence. In addition, there were significant differences in premenstrual syndrome according to age, and in stress according to age and economic status. Also, there was no significant difference according to dysmenorrhea and there were significant differences in premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea according to gender role identity. Premenstrual syndrome and stress were the most prevalence in female type, but the lowest severe in masculine type.
CONCLUSION
The study variables can be influencing factors in the gender role identity of female university students. Also, the findings can provide the basis for the development of nursing interventions to establish the gender role identity of female university students.

PURPOSE
The Purposes of this study were to examine the effects of Koryo-Sooji-Chim (30minutes * 2times/week * 2weeks) on menstrual pain and menstrual symptoms of female university students with dysmenorrhea. METHOD: The subjects were 22 female students with dysmenorrhea, 12 experimental group, 10 control group, studying at K university in Chungnam province. The data were collected through questionnaires from September 1st to November 30th 2003 were analyzed using descriptive statistics, X2-test, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULT: 1. The menstrual pain scores were significantly different between the two groups(U=16.0, p=.001). 2. The menstrual symptom scores were significantly different between the two groups(U=28.5, p=.038). CONCLUSION: These findings showed that Koryo-Sooji-Chim was effective related to menstrual pain and menstrual symptoms of female university students with dysmenorrhea. Koryo-Sooji-Chim during dysmenorrhea could be applied as an effective nursing intervention.

This study was designed to verify the effect of aromatherapy on menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea by a quasi experiment (nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design), from March to October, 2000. The subjects of this experiment consisted of 45 college women with menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea. They were randomized by 25 for the experimental group and 20 for the control group. Their mean age was 20.6 years, mean menstrual period 28.7 days, mean menstrual cramps(VAS) 7.25, mean dysmenorrhea (Dysmenorrhea Scale) was 27.34. As treatment, aromatherapy was to give effleurrage of the abdomen with lavender, clary sage and rose as aroma oil, almond oil as carrier oil. For the control group, abdominal massage was given with only almond oil. Data collection included menstrual cramps, dysmenorrhea, the change of symptoms(low abdominal pain, lumbago, headache, nausea, fatigue, edema). Menstrual cramps, dysmenorrhea and general, menstrual characteristics of subjects were measured the first day of the pre menstrual period before treatment (pre-test), menstrual cramps, dysmenorrhea, the change of symptoms were measured the first and second day of post menstrual period after treatment (posttest). Data were analyzed by t-test, X2-test, repeated measures ANOVA, Cronbach's alpha with SAS Program. The results of this study was as follows; 1. Menstrual cramps was significantly lower in the experimental group(p = .001). 2. Dysmenorrhea was significantly lower in the experimental group(p = .027). 3.Less women in the experimental group complained about the six symptoms than women in the control group after treatment on the first day of the menstrual period(p <0.05, p <0.01) In conclusion, these findings indicate that aromatherapy with lavender, clary sage, and rose could be effective to decrease menstrual cramps, and dysmenorrhea. So, aromatherapy could be applied to women suffering with menstrual cramps, dysmenorrhea periodically as an nursing intervention.