How much do nursing students know about PMDD and how do they feel about it?

Background: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that affects emotional well-being, academic performance, and quality of life. Nursing students are particularly vulnerable due to academic and clinical stressors, yet awareness and understanding of PMDD are often limited. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of nursing students regarding PMDD in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among female undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in nursing program at Children Hospital Lahore during March 2025 to June 2025. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire covering demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practices related to PMDD. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: Most participants were aged 18–20 years (35.7%), in the third year of study (50.0%), and resided in hostels (80.7%). Regarding knowledge, 35.7% had good knowledge, 35.7% average knowledge, and 28.57% poor knowledge of PMDD. In terms of attitude, 50.0% demonstrated a good attitude, 35.7% moderate, and 14.3% poor attitude toward PMDD. Conclusion: While nursing students generally exhibited average to good knowledge and a positive attitude toward PMDD, notable gaps remain. Structured educational interventions are recommended to improve awareness, reinforce positive attitudes, and enhance readiness to address menstrual and mental health issues in clinical practice.

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