A Descriptive Study to Determine the Presence of Premenstrual Syndrome among Nursing Officers and the Coping Measures Adopted by them

Abstract

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) exists when reproductive age group women complain of regularly recurring psychological or physical/biological symptoms or both which occur specifically during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and which are relieved by the onset of or during menstruation. Study was carried out to determine the presence of PMS and the coping measures adopted by nursing officers in a selected tertiary care hospital, Pune.Thirty (30) Nursing Officers were included in the study as per the inclusion criteria. Questionnaire was prepared using DSM IV criteria on premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The collected data was analyzed by using descriptive statistical methods. Results: The participants mean age was 30.8 (SD ±7.72), mean age at menarche 13.83 (SD ± 1.26). Presence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was 63% (with 95% C.I). Eighty four percentage (84%) of the participants were following at least one of the coping measures. Most widely used coping measures were rest, exercise, use of analgesics, meditation, yoga and calcium intake (mentioned as per the order of their priority). Other 6.66% of them have mentioned that they adopt other measures like listening music, reading good books, and hot water bag application. PMS related decreased work performance was found in 20%, decreased home responsibility in 13.33%. Ten percentage (10%) of the participants reported to have deteriorated relationship with co-workers, patients and their relatives. It was observed that 84% PMS and 45% of non-PMS participants followed one or more coping measures as they also experienced either physical or psychological symptoms. PMS can hit women at any time before menopause, frequently changing in its intensity and severity overtime. Typically, it is more severe in women in their twenties and thirties.