[Effects of SP-6 acupressure on dysmenorrhea, cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine in the college students].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify effects of the SP-6 acupressure on dysmenorrhea, and level of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine in the college students.


METHODS
Data were collected from May 1 to August 31, 2002. A total of 58 students from two universities participated in the study. Both groups were pretested before the intervention for three variables, the intensity of dysmenorrhea, level of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Then, SP-6 acupressure was provided for 20 minutes for students in the experimental group. The instruments used in this study included the Visual Analogue Scale developed by Johnson(1974), Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire Scale developed by Brooks-Gunn & Ruble(1980), and Stress scale developed by Cheun and Kim(1990).


RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences in the intensity of dysmenorrhea at the time immediately after, 30 minutes after, one hour after, and two hours after the intervention. The experimental group had a lower intensity than the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in level of norepinephrine at the time 30 minutes after the intervention with the experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
The SP-6 acupressure reduced the subjective perception of dysmenorrhea and the levels of norepinephrine. It was found out that the lasting period of 20 minutes of the SP-6 acupressure was two hours for college students.
College of Nursing Yonsei University; Research Institute for Home Health Hospice Care, Korea.
Soon-Bok
SB
Chang
Eun-Mi
EM
Jun