Effect of a Group of Merged Exercises on Primary Dysmenorrhea Symptoms among Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Dysmenorrhea is a very frequent problem since it negatively impacts both physical and emotional wellbeing and restricts daily activities that need effective treatments.  Aim:   assess the effect of a group of merged exercises on primary dysmenorrhea symptoms among nursing students. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized. Sample: A purposive sample of 72 nursing students who enrolled in the professional midwifery course was included and was distributed into two groups (36 students in the control group, 36 students in the exercise group). Setting: This study was conducted at the maternity nursing lab at Faculty of Nursing - Mansoura University, Egypt. Tools: Four tools were used;            A structured interviewing questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Short- Form (SF) - 36 Health Survey questionnaires. Results: The intensity of lower back pain has decreased from 58.3% pre intervention to 5.6 % after initiating a group of merged exercises. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index total score was significantly reduced in the exercise group than in the control group after 8 weeks of performing exercises. Furthermore, the short form (SF)-36 total score was significantly improved in the exercise group than in the control group after 8 weeks of performing exercises.  Conclusion: Eight weeks of a group of merged exercises program was effective in reducing pain severity, improved quality of sleep and life among nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea. Recommendation: Designing and implementing efficient programs to raise awareness of adolescent girls about benefits of exercises on primary dysmenorrhea symptoms.