Effects of a premenstrual syndrome education program on premenstrual symptomatology.

This exploratory study was conducted to determine the effects of an educational program on the number and severity of premenstrual symptoms as well as the number of premenstrual days with symptoms. Participants were a convenience sample of 47 employed women, whose scores on Abraham's Menstrual Symptomatology Questionnaire were in the moderate to severe range. Women were randomly divided into control and experimental groups, and those in the experimental groups participated in an education program. Both groups recorded daily on Abraham's Menstrual Symptom Diary for 19 anxiety, appetite, edema, and depression symptoms. Participants in the education program had fewer occurrences of anxiety and appetite symptoms and fewer severe edema and depression symptoms, as well as fewer days with symptoms, than women who did not participate in the educational program. The findings support the idea that client education can promote self-care and improve health status.