Effects of SP-6 Acupressure on Dysmenorrhea and Skin Temperature at CV2 Acupoint of Low Abdomen in the Female College Students

Jun, Eun Mi

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify effects of the SP-6 acupressure on dysmenorrhea, skin temperature at the CV2 acupoint. This study was a pretest-posttest study design with a nonequivalent control group. Data were collected from May 1 to August 31, 2002. A total of 58 female students from two universities participated in the study. Among them, 30 female students were assigned as the experimental group and the other 28 students to the control group. Both groups were pretested before the intervention for three variables, the degree of dysmenorrhea, and skin temperature at the CV2 acupoint. Then, the SP-6 acupressure was provided for 20 minutes for students in the experimental group. The instruments used in this study included the Visual Analogue Scale developed by Johnson(1974), skin thermometer by Simson Eectric CO., Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire Scale developed by Brooks-Gunn & Ruble(1980), and Stress scale developed by Chun and Kim (1990). The data were analyzed with the SAS program using Chi-square test, t-test, and ANCOVA and Bonferroni method were used to determine significant differences between the two groups. The results of this study are as follows; 1.There was a statistically significant difference in the intensity of dysmenorrhea after the intervention with the experimental group having a lower intensity than the control group. 2.There was a statistically significant difference in skin temperature at the CV2 acupoint 30min (F=4.87, p=0.03) after the intervention with the experimental group having a higher temperature. In conclusion, the SP-6 acupressure has proved to be an effective nursing intervention to reduce dysmenorrhea. Therefore, it is recommended women suffering from dysmenorrhea use the SP-6 acupressure.