scholarly journals How can we improve knowledge and perceptions of menstruation? A mixed-methods research study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayoung Moon ◽  
Inkyung Kim ◽  
Habhin Kim ◽  
Suwan Choe ◽  
Soyeon Jeon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Traditionally, menstrual education has consisted of lectures directed toward women. The objective of this study was to design an innovative menstrual education (ME) program that reflects the needs of both young women and men, and verify its effectiveness. Methods A mixed-method design was used to determine the program needs and assess young adults’ knowledge and perceptions of menstruation and menstrual products. Focus group interviews were conducted with 14 young adults, and 150 young adults participated in an online survey. After developing the ME program, 10 young adults participated in a study to verify its effectiveness. Results Interview results showed young adults wanted more information about menstrual products. The online survey revealed significant differences in knowledge based on participants’ general characteristics and experience; exposure to menstruation and menstrual products positively impacted knowledge and perception. In addition, the results indicated young adults wanted ME content access via mobile and in-person modalities, designed for both genders, drawing on menstrual experts’ knowledge. Based on these results, a multi-experimental menstrual education (MEME) program was designed and included: hands-on exposure to 60 menstrual products, product demonstrations with a female perineal model, a YouTube video created by the researchers, a true-or-false quiz, and question-and-answer sessions with menstrual experts. Conclusions This study clarified the requirements of an innovative menstrual education program. It led to high satisfaction among participants, and improved knowledge and perceptions of menstruation and menstrual products. The online survey showed a correlation between the extent of received ME, and respondents’ perception of menstrual products. This implied that a MEME program could change perceptions when conducted systematically; by extension it could ameliorate menstruation challenges attributed to poverty. Future research could further verify the effectiveness of the MEME program, using a larger sample, and examine its suitability for incorporation into official ME curricula at universities and companies. Trial registration This trial was registered in a Clinical Research Information Service in Korea linked with the World Health Organization’s International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (WHO’s ICTRP) (no. KCT0004715), Registered 07 Feb 2020.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayoung Moon ◽  
Inkyung Kim ◽  
Habhin Kim ◽  
Suwan Choe ◽  
Soyeon Jeon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Traditionally, menstrual education has been conducted in the form of lectures directed mainly towards women. This study aimed to design an innovative menstrual education (ME) program that reflects the needs of both young women and men, and to verify its effectiveness.Methods A mixed-method design was used to determine the requirements of an ME program and to assess young adults’ knowledge and perceptions of menstruation and menstrual products. Focus group interviews were conducted with 17 young adults, and 150 young adults participated in an online survey. After developing the ME program, 10 young adults participated in an experiment to verify its effectiveness.Results The interview results showed that young adults wanted more knowledge of various types of menstrual products. The online survey revealed significant differences in knowledge based on participants’ general characteristics and experience; exposure to menstruation and menstrual products had a positive impact on knowledge and perception. In addition, the results indicated that young adults would like ME content to be available on mobile devices and via in-person methods, to be designed for both genders, to draw on menstrual experts’ knowledge, and to incorporate multi-experimental methods. Considering the results, a multi-experimental menstrual education (MEME) program was designed, utilizing hands-on exposure to 60 menstrual products, simulations of the products’ use with a female perineal model, a YouTube video created by the researchers, a true-or-false quiz, and question-and-answer sessions with menstrual experts.Conclusions This study clarified the requirements of an innovative menstrual education program. Consequently, the MEME program not only led to high satisfaction among participants, but also helped to improve knowledge and perceptions of menstruation and menstrual products. In the online survey, results showed a correlation between the extent of received ME, and respondents’ perception of menstrual products. This implies that MEME could change perceptions of menstruation and menstrual products when conducted systematically; by extension, it would contribute to addressing the cause of menstruation-related problems attributed to poverty. Future research could further verify the effectiveness of the MEME program, using a larger sample, for the program’s incorporation into official ME curricula, such as at universities and companies.Trial registration This trial was registered in a Clinical Research Information Service in Korea that was linked with the World Health Organization’s International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (WHO’s ICTRP) (no. KCT0004715), Registered 07 Feb 2020, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01.jsp?seq=15855


2022 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 174550652110706
Author(s):  
Alana K Munro ◽  
Melanie Keep ◽  
Erin C Hunter ◽  
Syeda Z Hossain

Objectives: There has been increased attention to university students’ experiences of menstrual disorders, and access to menstrual products, in high-income countries. Less attention has been directed to other aspects of their menstrual experience, including confidence for menstrual management. This study aimed to understand the factors affecting university students’ confidence to manage menstruation at university. Methods: An online survey was completed by 410 participants (age range: 16–46 years, mean = 20.1 years) who menstruate and study at an Australian university. Participants reported demographic characteristics, confidence to manage menstruation at university, and personal, physical and environmental factors. A Mann–Whitney U-test analysed differences in confidence between groups of students. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and bivariate linear regressions determined associations between factors and confidence. Statistically significant associations were inputted into a multiple linear regression model. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: A minority of students (16.2%) felt completely confident to manage their menstruation at university. Menstrual knowledge, positive perceptions of menstruation and comfort to discuss menstruation with others positively predicted confidence. Physical menstrual symptoms, negative perceptions of menstruation, perceived stigma and using a menstrual cup or period underwear predicted lower confidence. In multiple regression, private and clean and sanitary university bathroom facilities, changing menstrual products at university, perceived stigma and negative perceptions of menstruation remained significant predictors. Conclusion: Most students did not have complete confidence to manage their menstruation at university. Several personal, physical and environmental factors were related to students’ confidence to manage menstruation. Assessment of these factors in future research with university students is recommended to enable a comprehensive understanding of their menstrual needs, and inform interventions aimed at improving their menstrual management confidence at university.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Sara S. Alsubaie ◽  
Abbad M. Alabbad

Recent studies on language acquisition and motivation have targeted Japanese language learners in a formal educational context, with less attention paid to learners who study Japanese informally. The current study aims to investigate the impact of Japanese animations in the context of informal third language acquisition. It targets the native speakers of Arabic who are interested in learning Japanese as a third language (L3), and investigates the motivations of Arab teenagers and young adults to learn Japanese. Further, the paper also focuses on examining aspects of Japanese language proficiency among teenagers and young adults, including vocabulary enhancement and grammar competence. The methodology used in the current study is twofold: an online survey questionnaire adopted from Armour and Iida (2016), followed by an engaging experiment in which participants were divided into two groups (reality anime group vs. action anime group) in order to examine the effectiveness of anime selection in boosting proficiency level. The findings of the online survey indicate that Arabic native speakers are highly motivated to learn Japanese, while the experiment results confirm that the type of anime and consistency of exposure do support the acquisition process. Further, the study concluded that consumption of anime series contributes to the learning process and facilitates learners' proficiency in general and vocabulary learning in particular. However, it remains unknown whether or not Arabic native speakers' motivations lead to their enrollment into formal Japanese foreign language education. Avenues for future research and implications are also presented toward the end of the paper.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kah-Yue Low ◽  
Kai-Shuen Pheh ◽  
Chee-Seng Tan

Abstract As depression has become a major disease burden in Malaysia, an easy-to-use tool with good psychometric is urgently needed to facilitate the screening process. The current study investigated the psychometric qualities of the 5-item World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5) and the optimal cut-off point for depression screening in the Malaysian context. A total of 610 undergraduate students answered an online survey consisting of the English version of the WHO-5 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the single-factor model. The WHO-5 also demonstrated good reliability and concurrent validity. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that ≤ 13 was the optimal threshold with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. The results support the usability of the WHO-5 to screen for depression among young adults in Malaysia. Moreover, the findings are also consistent with the literature highlighting the potential of the WHO-5 as a cross-cultural tool for depression screening.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye In Lee ◽  
Young-Ran Yoon

The Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) in South Korea provides a clinical trial registry platform in which all clinical trials should be mandatorily and prospectively registered. However, to date, the registration status of clinical trials in the field of dentistry has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview of the methodological design and trends of the registered clinical trials over a period of nine years. Information about registered clinical trials in the field of dentistry from the CRIS was comprehensively collected from 2013 to 2021. The details assessed from the collected trials include: type of sponsors, recruitment status, study design, randomization, allocation concealment, single or multi-centric, retrospective or prospective registration, and publication status. A total of 65 registered clinical trials were identified. The number of clinical trials in dentistry in South Korea was found to be less; however, an increasing trend was observed in the recent three years. A majority of the trials were interventional (81.5%), single-centered (86.2%), and conducted on patients (81.5%) and in private hospitals (55.4%). A considerable number of trials had an unclear phase, were retrospectively registered, and rarely published. Regarding the quality, most trials have inadequately reported the method of randomization and allocation concealment. The number of clinical trials in dentistry is still low in South Korea, and most of them were registered retrospectively. A poor-quality reporting of methods at several specific areas was observed. It is necessary for dental investigators to raise awareness of the need to register clinical trials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chee-Seng Tan ◽  
Siew-May Cheng ◽  
Tomokazu Nakayama ◽  
Sanju George

With both theories and empirical studies supporting the benefits of having a romantic relationship, there remains an increasing tendency of staying single being documented globally. It is thus important to understand the antecedent factors of such voluntary single movement. Guided by the Investment Model of Commitment (IMC) process, the roles of subjective socioeconomic status (SSES), relational mobility, and desirability of control in attitudes toward singlehood were investigated. A total of 1,108 undergraduate students from Malaysia (n=444), Japan (n=316), and India (n=348) answered an online survey consisting of the Attitudes toward Singlehood Scale, MacArthur Scale of SSES, Relational Mobility Scale, Desirability of Control Scale, Mini-Social Phobia Inventory, and Single Item Narcissism Scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed a persistent positive relationship between desirability of control, but not socioeconomic status and relational mobility, with attitudes toward singlehood, even after statistically excluding the effects of social anxiety and narcissism. A similar pattern was also observed among those who were currently single. Moreover, an interaction effect of socioeconomic status and relational mobility was found in further exploratory analysis. The results highlight that retaining the autonomy and flexibility of managing one’s own life and financial concern are the key reasons young adults prefer staying single to engaging in a romantic relationship. Implications and recommendations for future research are also presented in this study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41
Author(s):  
Matthew Rockloff ◽  
Alex M.T. Russell ◽  
Nancy Greer ◽  
Lisa Lole ◽  
Nerilee Hing ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and aimsLoot boxes are a common feature in video games where players win, buy or are gifted a virtual box or other container that is unwrapped to reveal virtual items of value, such as skins, weapons, in-game currency or special abilities. The current study aimed to relate the use of loot boxes to gambling problems and harm.MethodsAn online survey was conducted with 1,954 adolescents and young adults from NSW Australia, 59.9% female (aged 12–24), recruited by online panel aggregator, Qualtrics.ResultsBuying and selling loot boxes was associated with higher 12-month gambling frequency and gambling problems in young adults, aged 18–24 (Problem Gambling Severity Index). Young adults who bought loot boxes additionally had more gambling-related harms (Short Gambling Harms Screen). Young women, aged 18–24, who opened, bought and/or sold loot boxes spent more money in the last 12 months on gambling. In adolescents, aged 12–17, buying loot boxes was similarly associated with gambling problems (DSM-IV-MR-J). Furthermore, adolescent girls who bought and/or sold loot boxes viewed gambling more positively than other girls (Attitudes Towards Gambling Scale). There was no evidence, however, that longer-term experience in opening or purchasing loot boxes, a differentiating feature of the survey, is associated with current gambling problems.Discussion and conclusionsThis study suggests that loot boxes may be attractive to people who are already predisposed to engage in other gambling, and females who use loot boxes may have unique vulnerabilities to gambling problems that could be explored in future research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Szczuka ◽  
Charles Abraham ◽  
Adriana Baban ◽  
Sydney Brooks ◽  
Sabrina Cipolletta ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people’s engagement in health behaviors, especially those that protect individuals from SARS-CoV-2 transmission, such as handwashing/sanitizing. This study investigated whether adherence to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) handwashing guidelines (the outcome variable) was associated with the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic, as measured by the following 6 indicators: (i) the number of new cases of COVID-19 morbidity/mortality (a country-level mean calculated for the 14 days prior to data collection), (ii) total cases of COVID-19 morbidity/mortality accumulated since the onset of the pandemic, and (iii) changes in recent cases of COVID-19 morbidity/mortality (a difference between country-level COVID-19 morbidity/mortality in the previous 14 days compared to cases recorded 14–28 days earlier). Methods The observational study (#NCT04367337) enrolled 6064 adults residing in Australia, Canada, China, France, Gambia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, and Switzerland. Data on handwashing adherence across 8 situations (indicated in the WHO guidelines) were collected via an online survey (March–July 2020). Individual-level handwashing data were matched with the date- and country-specific values of the 6 indices of the trajectory of COVID-19 pandemic, obtained from the WHO daily reports. Results Multilevel regression models indicated a negative association between both accumulation of the total cases of COVID-19 morbidity (B = −.041, SE = .013, p = .013) and mortality (B = −.036, SE = .014 p = .002) and handwashing. Higher levels of total COVID-related morbidity and mortality were related to lower handwashing adherence. However, increases in recent cases of COVID-19 morbidity (B = .014, SE = .007, p = .035) and mortality (B = .022, SE = .009, p = .015) were associated with higher levels of handwashing adherence. Analyses controlled for participants’ COVID-19-related situation (their exposure to information about handwashing, being a healthcare professional), sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, marital status), and country-level variables (strictness of containment and health policies, human development index). The models explained 14–20% of the variance in handwashing adherence. Conclusions To better explain levels of protective behaviors such as handwashing, future research should account for indicators of the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trial registration Clinical Trials.Gov, #NCT04367337


2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Harvey ◽  
Greg Reid ◽  
Gordon A. Bloom ◽  
Kerri Staples ◽  
Natalie Grizenko ◽  
...  

Physical activity experiences of 12 age-matched boys with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were explored by converging information from Test of Gross Motor Development-2 assessments and semistructured interviews. The knowledge-based approach and the inhibitory model of executive functions, a combined theoretical lens, enabled the description of similarities and differences in experiences that emerged during interviews. Skill assessments indicated boys with ADHD were not as proficient movers as their peers without ADHD. Thematic analysis revealed that boys with ADHD reported playing with friends, paid little attention to detail, possessed superficial knowledge about movement skills, and expressed many negative feelings about physical activity. Task-specific interventions and a wider range of mixed methods research are recommended for future research studies in ADHD.


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