title: The effects of local low-dose heat application on dysmenorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is a controlled, prospective study which compares the effects of a low-dose heat patch for self-medication on the reduction of pain symptoms in dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample group included female sophomore students studying at a university in Istanbul, Turkey, between 2007 and 2008. These female participants completed the Dysmenorrhea Identification Form to determine the sample group, and a total of 193 female students possessed the eligible criteria. The research control group consisted of 66 patients, the analgesia group consisted of 61, and the heat patch group consisted of 66. The control group did not use any treatments, while the self-medication group used analgesic medication (single dose), and the heat patch group applied a heat patch on the lower abdomen, against the skin, for an application period of 2 menstrual cycles. Using a visual analog scale (VAS), the pain severity was recorded at the baseline, after 4 hours of intervention, and after 8 hours of intervention. The data were examined using ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the groups in terms of pain severity after 8 hours of application (P < .001). All groups had similar pain levels at baseline and during the fourth and eighth hours, with no significant differences between the groups during the first and the second menstrual cycles (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors conclude that the heat patch is an effective method for reducing dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: dilekcp@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dilek Coşkuner
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Potur
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kömürcü
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012646:Self Administration; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Analgesic; Dysmenorrhea; Heat application; Menstrual cycle; Pain severity