Traditional medicine patterns of dysmenorrhea and treatment needs among female students at University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University Hanoi

Tóm tắt

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to investigate the traditional medicine patterns of dysmenorrhea and the need for traditional medicine treatment among female students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University Hanoi, from January to May 2025. The study included 172 female students experiencing primary dysmenorrhea. The results showed that the most common traditional medicine patterns of dysmenorrhea were qi stagnation and blood stasis (37.2%), cold-induced blood stasis (26.2%), and dual deficiency of qi and blood (24.4%). Non-pharmacological treatments were commonly used (76.7%), with abdominal massage being the most frequently applied method; the proportions of students using modern medicine and traditional medicine were comparable (29.7% and 27.9%, respectively). Overall, 72.1% of students expressed a need for traditional medicine treatment, mainly due to its perceived safety, minimal side effects, and long-term effectiveness. The findings indicate a relatively high demand for traditional medicine in the management of dysmenorrhea among female students, suggesting the potential role of traditional medicine in reproductive health care for this population.