The Effect of Acupressure Techniques on Menstrual Pain (Dysmenorrhea) in Nursing Students of Poltekkes Kemenkes Aceh

Abstract

Menstruation is normal bleeding as part of woman’s monthly cycle, taking place when the egg released by the ovary is not fertilized. Menstrual problem which frequently occurs includes menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea. Menstrual pain can be reduced pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically, one of which is using acupressure techniques. This study aims to identify whether the application of acupressure techniques has an effect on menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea). This research is a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with a control group design. The participants involved 32 nursing students at Poltekkes Kemenkes Aceh who experienced dysmenorrhea, consisting of 10 students from year 1, 14 students from year 2 and 8 students from year 3. The class was divided into two: class X1 as an experimental class comprising 16 students and class X2 as a control class consisting of 16 female students. A total sampling technique was used to select the samples. Data were collected using SOP and NRS questionnaire and analyzed by means of the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The results found the p-value of 0.002, smaller than alpha 𝖺 (0.05). Thus, it can be concluded that there is an effect of acupressure on dysmenorrhoea in female students of Poltekkes Kemenkes Aceh.