This study was conducted to compare the effect of peer-led VS health-provider-led self-care education on dysmenorrheic girls’ knowledge, attitude, and menstrual symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea at dormitories of Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, Iran. In this randomized clinical trial, 165 girls between ages 19-25 who had experienced menstrual cramps three or more times during the last six months were randomly assigned to three groups (peer-led self-care education, health-provider-led self-care education, and control). A Menstrual Knowledge Questionnaire (MKQ), Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and Menstrual Information Form were the main instruments in this study. Data were collected in the baseline menstrual period and one and two menstrual periods after intervention. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis were used to analyze data by SPSS software. Menstrual Knowledge in the peer-led self-care education group increased 2.1 times and 2.5 times in the health-provider-led self-care education groups. Negative concepts of menstrual attitude decreased in the peer-led self-care education group (56.6 vs. 40.2, p=0.009) more than the health-provider-led self-care education group (56.9 vs. 48.3, p=0.035). There was no significant difference in the measure of decrease in pain score between interventional groups at both the first (p=0.988) and second (p=0.965) menstrual periods after intervention. These findings provide preliminary evidence that peer education can be effective health promotion in primary dysmenorrheic girls.

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