Interference and Impact of Dysmenorrhea on the Life of Spanish Nursing Students

Ana Abreu-Sánchez, Javier Ruiz-Castillo, María Dolores Onieva-Zafra, María Laura Parra-Fernández and Elia Fernández-Martínez
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Ana Abreu-Sánchez: Department of Nursing, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
Javier Ruiz-Castillo: Department of Nursing, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
María Dolores Onieva-Zafra: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
María Laura Parra-Fernández: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Elia Fernández-Martínez: Department of Nursing, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: Dysmenorrhea is a cause of absenteeism in universities which, in the context of nursing studies, may affect mandatory attendance. Moreover, presenteeism is associated with medication errors, patient falls, and a reduced quality of patient care. This study sought to identify the degree of interference of dysmenorrhea on daily life and its impact on academic performance among Spanish nursing students, and to explore the reasons for presenteeism. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 261 nursing students. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The chi square tests, chi-square linear trend, Student’s t -test, one-way analysis of variance of polynomial contrasts, and post hoc tests for the bi-variate analysis were used to compare the participants’ responses regarding their type of dysmenorrhea and pain intensity. In addition, a multivariate regression was performed to predict absenteeism. The answers to the open questions were analyzed using thematic content analysis techniques. We observed 62.8% of absenteeism and 92.7% of presenteeism due to dysmenorrhea. Absenteeism was observed to be 3.079 (confidence interval (CI): 95%1.724–5.499; p < 0.001) times more likely among women with severe menstrual pain, 2.513 (CI 95%1.314–4.807; p = 0.005) times more in those suffering from menstrual nausea and 1.936 (CI 95%1.098–3.411; p = 0.022) times more frequent in those suffering from diarrhea. The reasons for presenteeism were grouped into five categories: the pain was bearable, it is not a reason to be absent, others don’t consider it a reason to be absent, responsibility and guilt, and academic consequences. Dysmenorrhea can have a significant impact on academic performance. The concern among students about the academic repercussions and even feelings of guilt and incomprehension from others leads to high rates of presenteeism with potentially negative consequences for patient care.

Keywords: absenteeism; dysmenorrhea; nursing students; women’s health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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