ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ABOUT PRE-MENSTRUAL SYNDROME AMONG BS NURSING STUDENTS

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a common condition among young women, involving physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Awareness and understanding vary widely. This study assessed nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and associated factors related to PMS. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study of 103 BSN students used a structured questionnaire to assess demographics, knowledge, attitudes, symptoms, risk factors, and information sources. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25 with descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and Pearson correlation tests. Results Most participants (99%) were aged 18–25, representing all BSN year levels. A majority (68.9%) had excellent knowledge of PMS, commonly identifying mood swings (75.7%), irritability (74.8%), and bloating (72.8%) as symptoms. Key information sources included books (65%), family (64.1%), and health professionals (62.1%). Stress (78.6%), caffeine (68%), and alcohol (60.2%) were common risk factors, while dietary changes (83.5%) and physical activity (75.7%) were recognized relief methods. Knowledge showed positive correlations with attitude (r = 0.552, p < 0.001) and year level (r = 0.228, p = 0.021). Conclusion: The findings show high PMS knowledge and positive attitudes among nursing students, especially in higher years. However, gaps in understanding risk factors and traditional medicine highlight the need for targeted menstrual health education.

Keywords: Premenstrual Syndrome, Menstrual Health, Knowledge, Attitude, BS Nursing.