Effects of self-management strategies on the self-efficacy and self-management behavior in female college students with primary dysmenorrhea

Objective To explore the effects of self-management strategies on self-efficacy and self-management behavior in female college students with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods Implementing the plan that the interventional group (n=195) received self-management strategies, while the control group (n=196) did not received any intervention. Followed up six months, the self-efficacy and self-management behaviors and Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS) of dysmenorrhea pain were compared between two groups before and after the intervention. Results At the 6th month of observation period, the scores of self-efficacy in the intervention group(2.61±0.48)were significantly improved compared with the baseline(2.37±0.36) and the control group(2.43±0.46)(both P<0.05). Besides taking medicine to alleviate dysmenorrhea, other items in the self-management behaviors were significantly higher than baseline and control group (both P<0.05). The mean of dysmenorrhea pain VAS of 6th menstrual period in the intervention group was lower than baseline and the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The self-management strategies can effectively improve the self-efficacy and self-management behaviors among female college students, and alleviate the degree of dysmenorrhea pain. Key words: Self-management strategies; Primary dysmenorrhea; Self-efficacy; Self-management behavior