Effects of perimenstrual symptoms on labor productivity and quality of life among nurses

Abstract

【OBJECTIVE】To examine the effects of perimenstrual symptoms on labor productivity and quality of life (QOL) among nurses. 【METHODS】From November 2018 to March 2019, an anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 1,050 nurses from six medical institutions in City A and collected by mail. The survey included attributes, menstrual pain, perimenstrual symptoms, and labor productivity and QOL during the perimenstrual period. 【RESULTS】The number of valid responses to the questionnaire was 484 (46.1%).Among the subjects, 135 (28.2%) had irregular menstrual cycles and 338 (70.4%) took analgesics for menstrual cramps. During the perimenstrual period, 469 (98.9%) had some symptoms and 433 (90.2%) and 453 (94.8%) had decreased labor performance and QOL, respectively. Labor performance and QOL decreased to less than half of their usual level in 142 (29.6%) and 209 (43.7%), respectively, and the more severe the perimenstrual symptoms, the more significantly these decreased (both p<0.001). 【CONCLUSION】Perimenstrual symptoms decreased nurses’ labor productivity at work and QOL in daily life.