Reviewer's report
Title:Prevalence, impacts and medical managements of premenstrual syndrome
among female students: cross-sectional study in college of health science,
Mekelle university, Mekelle, northern Ethiopia
Version:4Date:17 January 2014
Reviewer: Nusrat Nisar
Reviewer's report:
1. In abstract Auther had mentioned in the background (3rd line)" main aim of the
study was to determine the prevalence, impacts and medical managements of
PMS". Aim or objective of any study may be primary and secondary there is no
term main aim it needs to be corrected/ revised by authers.
2. Auther use the term "determine" the prevalence of PMS. To Determine
prevalence of any disease one needs to comparare the two groups and to apply
some statistical test in between those two groups as auther did not use any
second group in this research the term "Determine" needs to be revised.
3. Methods need some more elaboration. to establish the diagnosis of PMS
women should have maintained the menstrual calender for atleast 2 to 3 months
so that cyclical pattern of PMS related symptoms can be established. Auther did
not mentioned in the methods that how diagnosis of pms was established as they
did not ask the participants to maintain the menstrual diary.
4. Methos did not explain that how the degree of PMS symptoms was rated and
what tool was used for it as it is mentioned in the result table 3 that symptos were
of mild moderate and severe degree. auther are suggested to describe the tool
used for it.
5.Inclusion criteria( 1.Had a menstrual period at least in the last three months) as
i suggested earlier the diagnosis of PMS is done when woman had PMS related
symptos for atleast two consequetive months if she had periods once in three
months then this does not fullfill the diagnostic criteria for PMS.
(Inclusion criteria 2Women of fertile age). As the auther had mentioned the age
of woman in range this inclusion criteria may be changed with the age in range
auther may write age group inspite of writing woman of fertile age it will clear the
ambiguity if auther agrres to modify 2nd inclusion criteria.
Exclusion criteria( 3 Currently using a hormonal method of contraception) This is
very sensible criteria but in the result section page 15 para 2 line 1 auther had
mentioned that 14 participants were found to be a current contraceptive users
and it was further mentioned in the table 2 the different harmonal methods used
by the participants. Auther is suggested to correct the exclusion criateria 3.
Exclusion criteria( 5 Had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy operation) it is
the ovarian harmones resposible for PMS related symptoms uterus had no
relation with those symptoms auther is suggested to correct this exclusion criteria
as woman may have hysterectomy but ovaries may be preserved such woman
may have PMS related symptoms. further more it is very rare that woman aged
18-27 had removal of uterus so this exclusion criteia can be deleted if auther
agray to it.
Results are satisfactory and discusion had provided good comparison with
literature.
Few grammer and typographical mistake are present in whole arlice
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.