title: Perception of premenstrual syndrome and attitude of evaluations of work performance among incoming university female students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common condition, and for 5% of women, the influence is so severe as to interfere with their mental health, interpersonal relationships, or studies. Severe PMS may result in decreased occupational productivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of perception of PMS on evaluation of work performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1971 incoming female university students were recruited in September 2009. A simulated clinical scenario was used, with a test battery including measurement of psychological symptoms and the Chinese Premenstrual Symptom Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When evaluating employee performance in the simulated scenario, 1565 (79.4%) students neglected the impact of PMS, while 136 (6.9%) students considered it. Multivariate logistic regression showed that perception of daily function impairment due to PMS and frequency of measuring body weight were significantly associated with consideration of the influence of PMS on evaluation of work performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to increase the awareness of functional impairments related to severe PMS.
authors.forename: Shu Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zih-Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: I Hui
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Kao Chin
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shih-Hsien
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Feng-Hwa
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital; Institute of Behavioral Medicine; Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yen Kuang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D000066477:Work Performance; D055815:Young Adult