J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2019 Nov;25(4):459-470. 10.5977/jkasne.2019.25.4.459.

Experiences of Precocious Puberty in Primary School Girls with Hormone Therapeutics

• Cheon SM
• Jung HY

• KMID: 2467326
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2019.25.4.459

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the nature of precocious puberty and to explore what it means in primary schools.
METHODS
The participants of this phenomenological study were nine primary school girls who were diagnosed with precocious puberty and experienced hormone therapeutics, applying a convenience sampling method. Data were collected from July 2017 to January 2018 through individual in-depth interviews of the participants, including gestures, facial expressions and nonverbal means. The data analysis followed the method of Giorgi.
RESULTS
The study identified 37 concepts, 12 clusters, and five themes from experiences of precocious puberty. The essential five themes were as follows: "˜ashamed and concealing experience', "˜there is no therapeutics option', "˜difficulties in the process of therapeutics', "˜difficulties in daily life', and "˜ambivalence toward therapeutics'.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study indicate physical, psychological and social difficulties faced by girls with precocious puberty. Based on this results of the study, it is necessary to develop nursing intervention programs focusing on healthy growth and development for children with precocious puberty.

Keyword

Precocious puberty; Primary schools; Girls; Hormones; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Child
Facial Expression
Female*
Gestures
Growth and Development
Humans
Methods
Nursing
Puberty, Precocious*
Qualitative Research
Statistics as Topic