Auricular Acupressure Combined with an Internet-Based Intervention or Alone for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Control Study. (7th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeh, Mei-Ling; Hung, Yu-Ling; Chen, Hsing-Hsia; Lin, Jaung-Geng; Wang, Yu-Jen
• Other Names: Lao Lixing Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 2013(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-04-07
• Subjects: Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/316212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : Background . Primary dysmenorrhea is prevalent in adolescents and young women. Menstrual pain and distress causes poor school performance and physiological damage. Auricular acupressure can be used to treat these symptoms, and Internet-based systems are a flexible way of communicating and delivering the relevant information. Objective . This study investigates the effects of auricular acupressure (AA) alone and combined with an interactive Internet-based (II) intervention for the management of menstrual pain and self-care of adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea. Design . This study adopts a pretest/posttest control research design with a convenience sample of 107 participants. Results . The outcomes were measured using the short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), visual analogue scale (VAS), menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ), and adolescent dysmenorrheic self-care scale (ADSCS). Significant differences were found in ADSCS scores between the groups, and in SF-MPQ, VAS, MDQ, and ADSCS scores for each group. Conclusion . Auricular acupressure alone and a combination of auricular acupressure and interactive Internet both reduced menstrual pain and distress for primary dysmenorrhea. Auricular acupressure combined with interactive Internet instruction is better than auricular acupuncture alone in improving self-care behaviors.