SuJok Massage Dismenorea Painful Menstruation (SuJok Massage)

The Effect of Sujok and Massage on Pain and Quality of Life in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study

A single-blind randomized controlled study was conducted with female students studying at a foundation university. Women who met the sample selection criteria were randomized into three groups, 40 women in each group, a total of 120 women: Su Jok (A), Massage (B), and Control Group (C). Data were obtained by applying the Data Collection Form, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation) Scale, and the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale to the women followed for three menstrual cycles.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Gynecologic Nursing
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: SuJok; Behavioral: Massage

Detailed Description

This study was performed in a single-blind, randomized controlled type to examine the effect of Su Jok and massage on pain and quality of life in women with primary dysmenorrhea.The sample size in this study was G*Power 3.1.9.2. In the program, 5% first type error, 0.30 standardized effect size, 1:1 distribution ratio, 80% power, and the minimum sample size required for the three groups were calculated as 111 women and 37 women for each group. Considering that there may be losses, 40 women and a total of 120 women were randomized to each group.

"Data Collection Form", "Visiual Analog Scale (VAS)", "Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation) Scale", "SF-36, Quality of Life Scale" were used to obtain data.Intervention and Data Collection Stage 1: VAS was applied to the women who volunteered to participate in the study on the first day of menstruation, and women with a mean score of 5 and above and meeting the sample selection criteria were randomized into three separate groups as A, B, and C. The researcher who performed the randomization ensured that the women were assigned to the control and experimental groups and did not share this information with the other researchers. Data Collection Form, Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation) Scale, SF-36 Quality of Life Scale were applied to all women on the first day of the next menstruation. Since the data collection tools were based on self-report, the woman was allowed to answer in a calm environment and alone. The environment where the applications will be held was arranged in such a way that the researcher and the participant could sit opposite each other with two chairs and an application table. Entry and exit to the room was prevented until the application was over. The environment was quiet.

Stage 2 Su Jok Experimental Group (A): In this study, the seed therapy technique was applied using live buckwheat seeds. Hands were used because it was reported in the literature that hands were used for gynecological pain and were more suitable.The acupuncture point, which is the reflection of the painful area, was determined on the women's hands. This point was massaged for a few minutes by the researcher, and then the buckwheat seed was fixed to this point with a bandage and the area where the seed was applied was massaged for 30 minutes. After each application, VAS evaluation was taken from the women. Su Jok was applied to women in the first three days of menstruation for three cycles.Experimental Group (B) to whom massage was applied: Massage application determined by scanning the literature and taking expert opinion classical massage techniques (eufluorage, petrissage, friction, tapotman, vibration) was used. Massage was attempted for a total of 20 minutes, 10 minutes on the back and waist, and 10 minutes on the abdominal region, in the first three days of the three cycles. Massage application was started from the back and waist region. Efflorage, petrissage, friction, vibration, taputman and efflorage for one minute were applied to this area, respectively. Afterwards, three minutes of efflorage, petrissage, friction, and one-minute efflorage were applied to the abdominal region, respectively. Odorless, lubricating gel was used during the application. After each application, VAS evaluation was taken from the women. Massage was applied to the women in the first three days of menstruation for three cycles.

Control Group (C): VAS assessment was obtained for the first three days during three cycles.

Stage 3 Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation) Scale and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale were applied to all women included in the study on the third day of the third cycle.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul
    • Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
      • Istanbul University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Not diagnosed with chronic and mental illness,
• Not using hormonal contraceptives and analgesics,
• Not having a pregnancy history, d) having regular menstrual cycles in the last 6 months (bleeding between 3-8 days and 21-35 days)
• Verbal Women who stated that they had dysmenorrhea
• 18-35 years old g) Women who defined menstrual pain as 5 or higher according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Dysmenorrhea and a gynecological diagnosis,
• Regular exercise, massage and Su Jok practices were not included.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Su Jok; Su Jok Experimental Group (A): In this study, the seed therapy technique was applied using live buckwheat seeds. Hands were used because it was reported in the literature that hands were used for gynecological pain and were more suitable (Şimşek and Alpar, 2022). The acupuncture point, which is the reflection of the painful area, was determined on the women's hands. This point was massaged for a few minutes by the researcher, and then the buckwheat seed was fixed to this point with a bandage and the area where the seed was applied was massaged for 30 minutes. After each application, VAS evaluation was taken from the women. Su Jok was applied to women in the first three days of menstruation for three cycles.	Behavioral: SuJok; Data were obtained by applying the Su Jok Efficiency Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation) Scale, and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale.
Experimental: Massage; Experimental Group (B) classical massage techniques (eufluorage, petrissage, friction, tapotman, vibration) was used. Massage was attempted for a total of 20 minutes, 10 minutes on the back and waist, and 10 minutes on the abdominal region, in the first three days of the three cycles. Massage application was started from the back and waist region. Efflorage, petrissage, friction, vibration, taputman and efflorage for one minute were applied to this area, respectively. Afterwards, three minutes of efflorage, petrissage, friction, and one-minute efflorage were applied to the abdominal region, respectively. Odorless, lubricating gel was used during the application. After each application, VAS evaluation was taken from the women. The women were massaged in the first three days of menstruation for three cycles.	Behavioral: Massage; Data were obtained by applying the Su Jok Efficiency Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation) Scale, and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale
No Intervention: Control; VAS evaluation was taken on the first three days during three cycles.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Menstrual Pain VAS	The effect of the intervention on menstrual pain was measured by VAS	12 Weeks
Affected by dysmenorrhea	Measured with the Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation) Scale	12 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Halic University
• Collaborators: Tülay Yılmaz; Hüsniye Dinç Kaya; Sevil Günaydın; Zülfiyye Nuraliyeva

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 30, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 31, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): April 25, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 25, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain; Massage; Su Jok; Primary Dismenorea
• Other Study ID Numbers: SuJok

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Data Collection: 4 Months Analysis: 3 Months Reporting and Publication 4 Months

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No