BACKGROUND: Although the Australasian Triage Scale(ATS) has been developed two decades ago, its reliability has not been def ined; therefore, we present a meta-analyis of the reliability of the ATS in order to reveal ...BACKGROUND: Although the Australasian Triage Scale(ATS) has been developed two decades ago, its reliability has not been def ined; therefore, we present a meta-analyis of the reliability of the ATS in order to reveal to what extent the ATS is reliable.DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases were searched to March 2014. The included studies were those that reported samples size, reliability coefficients, and adequate description of the ATS reliability assessment. The guidelines for reporting reliability and agreement studies(GRRAS) were used. Two reviewers independently examined abstracts and extracted data. The effect size was obtained by the z-transformation of reliability coefficients. Data were pooled with random-effects models, and meta-regression was done based on the method of moment's estimator.RESULTS: Six studies were included in this study at last. Pooled coefficient for the ATS was substantial 0.428(95%CI 0.340–0.509). The rate of mis-triage was less than fifty percent. The agreement upon the adult version is higher than the pediatric version.CONCLUSION: The ATS has shown an acceptable level of overall reliability in the emergency department, but it needs more development to reach an almost perfect agreement.展开更多
Background: Around 20% of birthing women report high levels of childbirth fear. Fear potentially impacts women’s emotional health, preparation for birth, and birth outcomes. Evidence suggests that personal and extern...Background: Around 20% of birthing women report high levels of childbirth fear. Fear potentially impacts women’s emotional health, preparation for birth, and birth outcomes. Evidence suggests that personal and external factors contribute to childbirth fear, however results vary. Aim: To identify pyscho-social factors associated with childbirth fear and possible antenatal predictors of childbirth fear according to women’s parity. Method: 1410 women in second trimester and attending one of three public hospitals in south-east Queensland were screened for childbirth fear using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ). Other measures included the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EPDS), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) and items from the EuroQol (EQ-5D) targeting Anxiety/Depression and Pain/Discomfort. In addition items measuring a previous mental health condition, social support and knowledge were used. Preferred mode of birth was also collected. Psycho-social factors were analysed to determine associations with childbirth fear. Multivariate analysis was used to determine predictors of fear. Results: Thirty-one percent (n = 190/604) of nulliparous and 18% (n = 143/782) of multiparous women reported high fear levels. Having a mental health history, desiring a caesarean section, reporting moderate to high pain during pregnancy, having a non-supportive partner and perceiving less childbirth knowledge than peers, were associated with childbirth fear. Standard multiple regression analyses by parity determined that depression, decisional conflict, low social support and less perceived knowledge predicted levels of childbirth fear. The model explained 32.4% of variance in childbirth fear for nulliparous and 29.4% for multiparous women. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors are significantly associated with childbirth fear. The identification of predictive psychosocial factors for childbirth fear indicates the importance of observing, assessing, and developing support strategies for women. Such strategies are required to decrease anxiety and depression for women during pregnancy, promote normal birth, and build social support to improve women’s feelings and positive expectations of birth.展开更多
Attention to disease and risk factor management is increasingly a feature of people with intellectual disability (ID) as an augmented life expectancy also exposes a growing number of age-related diseases. An additiona...Attention to disease and risk factor management is increasingly a feature of people with intellectual disability (ID) as an augmented life expectancy also exposes a growing number of age-related diseases. An additional concern is little attention to date to physical activity, nutrition, access to social support and other personal health choices and to environmental issues such as the impact of access to social support and the implications of individual’s living arrangements. Method: Using a sample of 753 persons with ID from the intellectual disability supplement to the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (IDS-TILDA), forty three variables were grouped into environmental, predisposing, enabling, need and personal health choices clusters and hierarchical ordinary least squares regression examined the contribution of environmental, enabling, predisposing, need and all combinations of the sets of variables to personal health choices. Findings: Almost 32% of variance was explained primarily by need variables. Most significant relationships were with meeting up with family and friends (environmental), age, rating of health and worries about getting older (predisposing), having public health insurance and nursing who come into the home (enabling) and presence of stroke, chronic constipation, functional limitations, high assistance needs with activities of daily living (need). Discussion: Taken together, the groupings of variables from the Anderson Model explained a modest amount of variance in the pursuit of positive personal health choices by people with ID. More work is clearly needed in developing evidence-based interventions and strategies, and in understanding the relationship between positive personal health choices of people with ID and health outcomes.展开更多
Aims: This article seeks to address some of the factors, particularly cultural barriers, contributing to inequity in healthcare service provisions for indigenous Australians. Furthermore, this article presents ways fo...Aims: This article seeks to address some of the factors, particularly cultural barriers, contributing to inequity in healthcare service provisions for indigenous Australians. Furthermore, this article presents ways for healthcare professionals to take action on culture-related health equity issues. Finally, this article addresses what nurses can do to support more operational interventions and enhance the quality of services for indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.Background: Recently, scholarly literature in Australia has focused on the issue of ensuring equitable access to healthcare for aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, who are regarded as economically, socially, politically and culturally disadvantaged(Larkins et al, 2016; Lowell, 2013).^(1,2)However, in spite of significant efforts on the part of the Australian government, scholars, policy makers and communities to provide fair and equitable healthcare, this challenging and longstanding issue remains unresolved and needs to be addressed immediately(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015; Australian Bureau of Statistics(ABS), 2011).^(3,4)Data sources: Using the Population, Intervention and Outcome framework, several databases(PUBMED,MEDLINE, and SCOPUS) and government web-based literature resources were searched to identify original research articles published from 2000 to 2016.Discussion: Health inequity exists among aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, and the cultural barriers are vital factors in addressing aboriginals' health inequity. Healthcare professionals could be part of an effective solution for diminishing racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare. Different types of nurses could play different roles in addressing aboriginal cultural barriers among aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.Nurses are uniquely positioned to initiate and sustain contact with aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders in healthcare workplaces,as they can intervene at the points of greatest need in the community to address socially significant healthcare and social issues.Conclusions: The different roles of nurses in providing health and social care interventions to aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders could be utilized to increase equity in access to healthcare and help aboriginals attain better levels of health.展开更多
The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in minimizing the depressive symptoms and improving quality of life in heart failure (HF) patients with depres...The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in minimizing the depressive symptoms and improving quality of life in heart failure (HF) patients with depression. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness evidence. This review only considered randomized controlled trial, assessing the effectiveness of CBT as a treatment for depression in adults (aged above 18) with HF, compared with usual care, which may include medications. This systematic review includes five RCTs involving 379 HF patients with depression (CBT = 192;Control = 187). Two RCTs compared CBT versus usual care using BDI, and no statistically significant differences were observed in reduction of depression after three months of the intervention (MD ?0.92, 95% CI ?1.89 to ?0.05) (p = 0.06). However, a significant difference of depression level was identified between CBT and control groups in a meta-analysis of two RCTs after 6-months of intervention measured by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) (MD ?3.34, 95% CI ?5.00 to ?1.68) (p = 0.0001) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 43%). Quality of life was assessed at three months between intervening groups undergoing CBT and the control group with usual care in two RCTs. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) in the CBT group compared with usual care (MD ?9.44, 95% CI ?13.02 to ?5.87) (p < 0.0001). The key finding of this review is that CBT is likely to be helpful in improving the depressive symptoms and quality of life in HF patients with depression. Moreover, long-term continued CBT sessions may help in minimizing the depression level and improving the QoL.展开更多
Aim: To assess the pattern, demand and opinion of dowry among women in urban Karachi, Pakistan and their perceived negative consequences of dowry. Setting: Pakistan is a low income country, predominantly Muslim, with ...Aim: To assess the pattern, demand and opinion of dowry among women in urban Karachi, Pakistan and their perceived negative consequences of dowry. Setting: Pakistan is a low income country, predominantly Muslim, with around 190 million inhabitants. Karachi is the biggest city with roughly 13 million inhabitants. Method: Qualitative study, using content analysis of five focus group discussions with women. Results: The theme “Dowry practices and their consequences” emerged, along with five categories and 14 subcategories, describing the “burden of dowry”, “dowry in society”, “dowry problems created by parents-in-law”, “negative consequences of dowry practice” and “good intentions”. Conclusion: Problems due to dowry practices are something which women of all socioeconomic classes in Karachi are aware of. A number of negative consequences of these practices create a current, pressing problem in Karachi society. These consequences affect women’s status and their possibilities to grow and educate themselves. It seems that change is being brought on slowly, following the country’s development and increasing educational level of the younger generation. Awareness of dowry issues needs to be raised and steps need to be taken to speed up this process of change by empowering women and ensuring equality in Pakistan.展开更多
<strong>Purpose:</strong> Disease-related Stigma is negative emotions, attitudes, stereotypes, and beliefs about diseases. Cancer is one of the diseases that can be exposed to stigma. Regarding the effects...<strong>Purpose:</strong> Disease-related Stigma is negative emotions, attitudes, stereotypes, and beliefs about diseases. Cancer is one of the diseases that can be exposed to stigma. Regarding the effects of stigma on the quality of life;admission and adherence to treatment, and considering stigma as a barrier to health promotion and cancer screening, the aim of this study was to provide a care plan for reducing stigma in cancer. <strong>Methods:</strong> This research was carried out during three phases of qualitative, quantitative studies and a review of the literature. The qualitative phase was conducted by conventional content analysis to find effective factors on the reduction of stigma through face to face semi-structured interviews. The quantitative phase was a cross-sectional descriptive study to measure the level of stigma. By using both quantitative and qualitative findings, and a review of the literature, a comprehensive care plan to reduce stigma in families with cancer patients was developed. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed two categories of data;1) reducing stigma at the individual or family level which needs increasing awareness, teaching coping skills, and support, as well as counseling;and 2) stigma reduction at the community level and policy rules which involve public education and cultural changes. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Implementation of a care plan for reducing stigma can increase the physical and psychological health outcomes of people influenced by cancer, and at the community level, improves the attitude toward cancer and the success of screening programs, and ultimately reduces disability and mortality of the disease.展开更多
Background and Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of sudden death. In this article, we compared patients’ illness perception (IP), treatment adherence and coping mechanisms of patients unde...Background and Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of sudden death. In this article, we compared patients’ illness perception (IP), treatment adherence and coping mechanisms of patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods: In this descriptive, prospective observational study IP, treatment adherence and coping of 140 patients were evaluated pre-PTCA, at the time of hospital discharge and 1 to 3 months post-PTCA by Illness Perception Questionnaire, Morisky Treatment Adherence and Carver’s brief COPE questionnaires. Results: 1 - 3 months post-PTCA, all dimensions of IP changed significantly except personal and treatment control. Adherence scores decreased simultaneously. With respect to coping mechanisms, all increased except behavioral disengagement, emotional support, instrumental support and religion which decreased significantly post-PTCA. Conclusions: In Overall, an improved IP and increased use of controllable causal attributions led to an increase in medication adherence and adaptive coping strategies. Post-treatment health behaviors are predictable by assessing patients’ illness-related beliefs beforehand.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic problem. In some cases, non-medical treatments are considered to be more effective, with fewer side effects. Ginger and exercise are alternative treatments for dysmenor...BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic problem. In some cases, non-medical treatments are considered to be more effective, with fewer side effects. Ginger and exercise are alternative treatments for dysmenorrhea, but in the present study they were not combined. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the effects of ginger and exercise on primary dysmenorrhea were compared.DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: This randomized controlled trial was performed in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Two groups of female students were recruited by simple random allocation. In each group, 61 students with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea with regular menstrual cycles and without a history of regular exercise were assessed. The ginger group received 250 mg ginger capsules from the onset of menstruation. In the exercise group, belly and pelvic stretching exercises were performed for 10 min, 3 times per week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intensity of pain was assessed according to a visual analogue scale after the first and the second month. RESULTS: Exercise was significantly more effective than ginger for pain relief(31.57 ± 16.03 vs 38.19 ± 20.47, P = 0.02), severity of dysmenorrhea(63.9% vs 44.3% mild dysmenorrhea, P = 0.02) and decrease in menstrual duration(6.08 ± 1.22 vs 6.67 ± 1.24, P = 0.006), in the second cycle. CONCLUSION: Stretching exercises, as a safe and low-cost treatment, are more effective than ginger for pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered in www.IRCT.ir with No. 201203118822N2.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND: Although the Australasian Triage Scale(ATS) has been developed two decades ago, its reliability has not been def ined; therefore, we present a meta-analyis of the reliability of the ATS in order to reveal to what extent the ATS is reliable.DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases were searched to March 2014. The included studies were those that reported samples size, reliability coefficients, and adequate description of the ATS reliability assessment. The guidelines for reporting reliability and agreement studies(GRRAS) were used. Two reviewers independently examined abstracts and extracted data. The effect size was obtained by the z-transformation of reliability coefficients. Data were pooled with random-effects models, and meta-regression was done based on the method of moment's estimator.RESULTS: Six studies were included in this study at last. Pooled coefficient for the ATS was substantial 0.428(95%CI 0.340–0.509). The rate of mis-triage was less than fifty percent. The agreement upon the adult version is higher than the pediatric version.CONCLUSION: The ATS has shown an acceptable level of overall reliability in the emergency department, but it needs more development to reach an almost perfect agreement.
文摘Background: Around 20% of birthing women report high levels of childbirth fear. Fear potentially impacts women’s emotional health, preparation for birth, and birth outcomes. Evidence suggests that personal and external factors contribute to childbirth fear, however results vary. Aim: To identify pyscho-social factors associated with childbirth fear and possible antenatal predictors of childbirth fear according to women’s parity. Method: 1410 women in second trimester and attending one of three public hospitals in south-east Queensland were screened for childbirth fear using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ). Other measures included the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EPDS), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) and items from the EuroQol (EQ-5D) targeting Anxiety/Depression and Pain/Discomfort. In addition items measuring a previous mental health condition, social support and knowledge were used. Preferred mode of birth was also collected. Psycho-social factors were analysed to determine associations with childbirth fear. Multivariate analysis was used to determine predictors of fear. Results: Thirty-one percent (n = 190/604) of nulliparous and 18% (n = 143/782) of multiparous women reported high fear levels. Having a mental health history, desiring a caesarean section, reporting moderate to high pain during pregnancy, having a non-supportive partner and perceiving less childbirth knowledge than peers, were associated with childbirth fear. Standard multiple regression analyses by parity determined that depression, decisional conflict, low social support and less perceived knowledge predicted levels of childbirth fear. The model explained 32.4% of variance in childbirth fear for nulliparous and 29.4% for multiparous women. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors are significantly associated with childbirth fear. The identification of predictive psychosocial factors for childbirth fear indicates the importance of observing, assessing, and developing support strategies for women. Such strategies are required to decrease anxiety and depression for women during pregnancy, promote normal birth, and build social support to improve women’s feelings and positive expectations of birth.
文摘Attention to disease and risk factor management is increasingly a feature of people with intellectual disability (ID) as an augmented life expectancy also exposes a growing number of age-related diseases. An additional concern is little attention to date to physical activity, nutrition, access to social support and other personal health choices and to environmental issues such as the impact of access to social support and the implications of individual’s living arrangements. Method: Using a sample of 753 persons with ID from the intellectual disability supplement to the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (IDS-TILDA), forty three variables were grouped into environmental, predisposing, enabling, need and personal health choices clusters and hierarchical ordinary least squares regression examined the contribution of environmental, enabling, predisposing, need and all combinations of the sets of variables to personal health choices. Findings: Almost 32% of variance was explained primarily by need variables. Most significant relationships were with meeting up with family and friends (environmental), age, rating of health and worries about getting older (predisposing), having public health insurance and nursing who come into the home (enabling) and presence of stroke, chronic constipation, functional limitations, high assistance needs with activities of daily living (need). Discussion: Taken together, the groupings of variables from the Anderson Model explained a modest amount of variance in the pursuit of positive personal health choices by people with ID. More work is clearly needed in developing evidence-based interventions and strategies, and in understanding the relationship between positive personal health choices of people with ID and health outcomes.
文摘Aims: This article seeks to address some of the factors, particularly cultural barriers, contributing to inequity in healthcare service provisions for indigenous Australians. Furthermore, this article presents ways for healthcare professionals to take action on culture-related health equity issues. Finally, this article addresses what nurses can do to support more operational interventions and enhance the quality of services for indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.Background: Recently, scholarly literature in Australia has focused on the issue of ensuring equitable access to healthcare for aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, who are regarded as economically, socially, politically and culturally disadvantaged(Larkins et al, 2016; Lowell, 2013).^(1,2)However, in spite of significant efforts on the part of the Australian government, scholars, policy makers and communities to provide fair and equitable healthcare, this challenging and longstanding issue remains unresolved and needs to be addressed immediately(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015; Australian Bureau of Statistics(ABS), 2011).^(3,4)Data sources: Using the Population, Intervention and Outcome framework, several databases(PUBMED,MEDLINE, and SCOPUS) and government web-based literature resources were searched to identify original research articles published from 2000 to 2016.Discussion: Health inequity exists among aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, and the cultural barriers are vital factors in addressing aboriginals' health inequity. Healthcare professionals could be part of an effective solution for diminishing racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare. Different types of nurses could play different roles in addressing aboriginal cultural barriers among aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.Nurses are uniquely positioned to initiate and sustain contact with aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders in healthcare workplaces,as they can intervene at the points of greatest need in the community to address socially significant healthcare and social issues.Conclusions: The different roles of nurses in providing health and social care interventions to aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders could be utilized to increase equity in access to healthcare and help aboriginals attain better levels of health.
文摘The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in minimizing the depressive symptoms and improving quality of life in heart failure (HF) patients with depression. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness evidence. This review only considered randomized controlled trial, assessing the effectiveness of CBT as a treatment for depression in adults (aged above 18) with HF, compared with usual care, which may include medications. This systematic review includes five RCTs involving 379 HF patients with depression (CBT = 192;Control = 187). Two RCTs compared CBT versus usual care using BDI, and no statistically significant differences were observed in reduction of depression after three months of the intervention (MD ?0.92, 95% CI ?1.89 to ?0.05) (p = 0.06). However, a significant difference of depression level was identified between CBT and control groups in a meta-analysis of two RCTs after 6-months of intervention measured by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) (MD ?3.34, 95% CI ?5.00 to ?1.68) (p = 0.0001) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 43%). Quality of life was assessed at three months between intervening groups undergoing CBT and the control group with usual care in two RCTs. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) in the CBT group compared with usual care (MD ?9.44, 95% CI ?13.02 to ?5.87) (p < 0.0001). The key finding of this review is that CBT is likely to be helpful in improving the depressive symptoms and quality of life in HF patients with depression. Moreover, long-term continued CBT sessions may help in minimizing the depression level and improving the QoL.
文摘Aim: To assess the pattern, demand and opinion of dowry among women in urban Karachi, Pakistan and their perceived negative consequences of dowry. Setting: Pakistan is a low income country, predominantly Muslim, with around 190 million inhabitants. Karachi is the biggest city with roughly 13 million inhabitants. Method: Qualitative study, using content analysis of five focus group discussions with women. Results: The theme “Dowry practices and their consequences” emerged, along with five categories and 14 subcategories, describing the “burden of dowry”, “dowry in society”, “dowry problems created by parents-in-law”, “negative consequences of dowry practice” and “good intentions”. Conclusion: Problems due to dowry practices are something which women of all socioeconomic classes in Karachi are aware of. A number of negative consequences of these practices create a current, pressing problem in Karachi society. These consequences affect women’s status and their possibilities to grow and educate themselves. It seems that change is being brought on slowly, following the country’s development and increasing educational level of the younger generation. Awareness of dowry issues needs to be raised and steps need to be taken to speed up this process of change by empowering women and ensuring equality in Pakistan.
文摘<strong>Purpose:</strong> Disease-related Stigma is negative emotions, attitudes, stereotypes, and beliefs about diseases. Cancer is one of the diseases that can be exposed to stigma. Regarding the effects of stigma on the quality of life;admission and adherence to treatment, and considering stigma as a barrier to health promotion and cancer screening, the aim of this study was to provide a care plan for reducing stigma in cancer. <strong>Methods:</strong> This research was carried out during three phases of qualitative, quantitative studies and a review of the literature. The qualitative phase was conducted by conventional content analysis to find effective factors on the reduction of stigma through face to face semi-structured interviews. The quantitative phase was a cross-sectional descriptive study to measure the level of stigma. By using both quantitative and qualitative findings, and a review of the literature, a comprehensive care plan to reduce stigma in families with cancer patients was developed. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed two categories of data;1) reducing stigma at the individual or family level which needs increasing awareness, teaching coping skills, and support, as well as counseling;and 2) stigma reduction at the community level and policy rules which involve public education and cultural changes. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Implementation of a care plan for reducing stigma can increase the physical and psychological health outcomes of people influenced by cancer, and at the community level, improves the attitude toward cancer and the success of screening programs, and ultimately reduces disability and mortality of the disease.
文摘Background and Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of sudden death. In this article, we compared patients’ illness perception (IP), treatment adherence and coping mechanisms of patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods: In this descriptive, prospective observational study IP, treatment adherence and coping of 140 patients were evaluated pre-PTCA, at the time of hospital discharge and 1 to 3 months post-PTCA by Illness Perception Questionnaire, Morisky Treatment Adherence and Carver’s brief COPE questionnaires. Results: 1 - 3 months post-PTCA, all dimensions of IP changed significantly except personal and treatment control. Adherence scores decreased simultaneously. With respect to coping mechanisms, all increased except behavioral disengagement, emotional support, instrumental support and religion which decreased significantly post-PTCA. Conclusions: In Overall, an improved IP and increased use of controllable causal attributions led to an increase in medication adherence and adaptive coping strategies. Post-treatment health behaviors are predictable by assessing patients’ illness-related beliefs beforehand.
基金supported by a grant from theResearch Deputy of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences(grant number:H-92-24),Iran
文摘BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic problem. In some cases, non-medical treatments are considered to be more effective, with fewer side effects. Ginger and exercise are alternative treatments for dysmenorrhea, but in the present study they were not combined. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the effects of ginger and exercise on primary dysmenorrhea were compared.DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: This randomized controlled trial was performed in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Two groups of female students were recruited by simple random allocation. In each group, 61 students with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea with regular menstrual cycles and without a history of regular exercise were assessed. The ginger group received 250 mg ginger capsules from the onset of menstruation. In the exercise group, belly and pelvic stretching exercises were performed for 10 min, 3 times per week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intensity of pain was assessed according to a visual analogue scale after the first and the second month. RESULTS: Exercise was significantly more effective than ginger for pain relief(31.57 ± 16.03 vs 38.19 ± 20.47, P = 0.02), severity of dysmenorrhea(63.9% vs 44.3% mild dysmenorrhea, P = 0.02) and decrease in menstrual duration(6.08 ± 1.22 vs 6.67 ± 1.24, P = 0.006), in the second cycle. CONCLUSION: Stretching exercises, as a safe and low-cost treatment, are more effective than ginger for pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered in www.IRCT.ir with No. 201203118822N2.
