Why Do Some Spanish Nursing Students with Menstrual Pain Fail to Consult Healthcare Professionals?

Why Do Some Spanish Nursing Students with Menstrual Pain Fail to Consult Healthcare Professionals? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 05;17(21): Authors: Ramos-Pichardo JD, Ortega-Galán ÁM, Iglesias-López MT, Abreu-Sánchez A, Fernández-Martínez E Abstract Dysmenorrhea is a problem that affects a large percentage of young women worldwide. Alarmingly, the majority of these women choose to self-medicate rather than consult a healthcare professional, despite the risks involved. The present study aimed to explore the reasons why undergraduate nursing students do not consult health care professionals regarding their menstrual pain. A qualitative study was conducted using an open question: "Why didn't you consult a healthcare professional?" within the context of a research project on primary dysmenorrhea among nursing students at the University of Huelva, Spain. The responses of 202 women were analyzed using content analysis. Three categories were identified: assessment of the pain experienced, expectations, and experiences of professional care and selfcare. We found a striking normalization of the problem; notably, students downplayed the importance of the problem, considering that it was not worth consulting a physician. Furthermore, there was a notable degree of self-medication using non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). These results may be useful for orienting policies to raise social awareness of this problem and fo...
Source: Pain Physician - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Int J Environ Res Public Health Source Type: research