PURPOSE: To collect and interpret basic data involving the discomfort level of platelet donors and to see which nursing interventions would help make plateletpheresis more comfortable. METHODS: Using " the Platelet Donor's Discomfort Scale" developed by the researcher herself and reviewed by an expert panel, the severity of discomfort as well as factors contributing to the development of this discomfort were analyzed. This scale contained 59 items and each item was scored by the 4-point Likert manner. Between March 1, 1996 and May 31, 1996, 500 platelet donors(16 years of age and older) were enrolled in this study. The Statistical methods used were factor analysis, t-test, and ANOVA. The results were as follows : 1. The mean of the platelet donor's discomfort scale was 130, range 69-207, possible score ranging from 59-236. 2. The platelet donor's discomfort scale had psychological, environmental, physical, and time-related factors. The time-related factor was the highest positive correlation with the development of the discomfort. 3. In looking at the psychological and environmental factors of the discomfort scores, the 16-20 age group had significantly higher rating than those of the 26-30 age group. The students' group had higher scores than the soldier's group, and those who used the V-50, MCS-3P, or the PCS Plus machines had higher scores than those who used the COBE Spectra machine(P<.05, respectively) 4. In relation to the physical factor of the discomfort score, the youngest group felt significantly more discomfort, the student's group had a higher score than the soldier's group had a higher score than the soldier's group, and those who used the V-50, MCS-3P, or the PCS Plus machines had higher scores than those who used the COBE Spectra machine(P<0.05, respectively). 5. The time related factor of the discomfort score had the highest scores in every variable, how ever, statistically significant differences were no found between any of the variables(P>.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the above results, it can be oserved that the time-related factor was the most important factor influencing discomfort. The age and job of the donor, as well as the type of machine used, were significant variables in predicting the level of discomfort, regardless of psychological, environmental, and physical factors. This data could be used to determine nursing interventions that would relieve some of the discomfort of patients, as well as donors, undergoing plateletpheresis. Furthermore, consideration of the donor's time, introduction of a platelet donor pool system, publicity and education about platelet donation are required.

Management of perimenstrual discomfort could be an effective strategy for women's health promotion. This study was designed to develop and test the nursing intervention program for the reduction of the perimenstrual discomfort. The data were collected from a group of 76 female university students(34 in the intervention group, 42 in the control group) during November 20, 1997 and March 10, 1998. Measurements were taken concerning perimenstrual discomfort, self care behavior, and perimenstrual discomfort from both groups, at pre and post intervention. Intervention program involves education, support, counselling, and relaxation training, via individual and group levels over a twelve- week period. Listed are the summarized results: 1. The intervention group had more knowledge concerning perimenstrual discomfort(t=2.290, p=.025), self care behavior(t=3.198, p=.000), and lower perimenstrual discomfort score(t=-4.446, p=.000) than the control group at post intervention. 2. The intervention group showed an enhancement on the knowledge on perimenstural discomfort(t=2.35, p=.025), and decreased the perimenstrual discomfort score(t=-7.36, p=.000). However change of self care behavior was not significant during the intervention. According to this study a developed nursing intervention program is effective for reduction of the perimenstrual discomfort. For a future research, it is necessary that experiments concerning menstruation, and a correlational study of perimensturual discomfort and stress will be performed.

This study was performed to compare the transcultural differences on perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes and sex role acceptance between Korean and American college students. The subjects, 2557 nursing students were selected from 13 universities all around Korea, and 4 universities in the eastern, western, and middle areas of the United States. The data were collected using the MDQ(Menstrual Distress Questionnaire by Moos), the MAQ(Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire) and the Sex Role Acceptance Scale, the subjects answered the MDQ for three points(premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual based on their recollections) between July, 1996 and April, 1997. The findings are as follows : 1. There were significant differences in the age of menarche, duration of menstruation, and menstrual cycle between the Koreans and the Americans. 2. As for sex role acceptance, Americans more frequently denied the traditional female role than did Koreans. 3. There were significant differences between the two groups on five categories of menstrual attitude(menstruation is a phenomena that weakens women physically and psychologically, menstruation is a bothersome phenomena. menstruation is a natural phenomena, and menstruation is a phenomena that does not influence women's behaviors non is expected to). 4, For the menstrual discomfort scores, there were significant differences between the two groups on all six categories of the MDQ(pain, attention deficit, behavioral changes, ANS response, water retention, and negative emotion) for the three points(premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual period). 5. The most common complaints for the Korean women were pain during the perimenstrual period and fatigue during the intermenstrual period. In contrast, for the Americans the most common complaint was negative emotions during the perimenstrual period, but less pain than the Koreans, and a similarity to Koreans during the intermenstrual period. 6. Regularity of the menstrual cycle was positively correlated with age of menarche, menstrual cycle, and duration of menstruation. 7. For the interrelationship between of Perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes, and sex role acceptance, there were significant correlations for both group as follows : First, the MA category "menstruation is a bothering phenomena" was negatively correlated with sex role acceptance, second, the MA category "menstruation is a phenomena that weakens the women physically and psychologically" was positively correlated with the MA category "menstruation onset is a predictable phenomena." For the further research, it is recommended that efficient nursing intervention programs for perimenstrual discomforts, be developed and qualitative re search to demonstrate the cultural differences as the feminism view point be done.