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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04977713

Delivery Pain and Postpartum Comfort

In this study was aimed that acupressure applied on the BL32 point and shower application reduced the intensity of labor pain experienced by the pregnant women in the active phase of labor and increased their postpartum comfort

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Key information

Conditions

Labor Pain Acupressure Hydrotherapy Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postpartum Period Signs and Symptoms

Age range

20 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Medipol University

Istanbul, 34180, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Acupressure and shower are methods that can help reduce pain severity. This study thus aims to determine the effects of acupressure and shower on labour pain and postpartum comfort. This study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This study was the control group consisted of 40 pregnant women, while the experimental groups (acupressure and shower) consisted of 80 pregnant women in total. The experimental groups received routine labour care and either acupressure or showers upon reaching three cervical dilations (4-5, 6-7 and 8-10 cm). The control group only received routine labour care. A maternal information form (MIF), the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VASP) and the Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PPCQ) were used to collect data. CONSORT checklist was used to report the current study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • The inclusion criteria were being 20-40 years of age;
  • Having a foetus in vertex presentation
  • Having a foetus weighing 2.5-4 kg, as determined through ultrasonography
  • Being primiparous
  • Being between 37 and 42 gestational weeks with a single foetus
  • Having planned to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery
  • Not having used nonpharmacological pain control methods previously
  • Having a cervical dilation less than 5 cm (Dabiri et al., 2014)
  • Not having received analgesia or anaesthesia.

Exclusion criteria

  • Were having a systemic disease during pregnancy (gestational diabetes, hypertension)
  • Taking medication regularly
  • Having a problem that prevented the woman from communicating
  • Undergoing psychiatric treatment (pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy)
  • Requiring an operative vaginal delivery (forceps, vacuum)
  • Receiving pharmacological interventions for labour pain.

Treatment and study plan

Acupressure

Other

A researcher sat behind the women to comfortably access the sacral area and be in the appropriate position. The researcher then applied deep rotational pressure on the BL32 points until her nail bed colour changed to prevent any discomfort in the participants

Shower

Other

During uterine contractions, these participants took a shower while standing, with a researcher on hand to assist her (average time: 20 minutes). The water's temperature was between 22°C and 26°C.

Primary outcomes

  1. Reduce labor pain

    Time frame: Evaluation was done until delivery (on average between 8-12 hours)

    The participants were applicated acupressure, and shower as for birth pain. Pain has been evaluated with VASP.

  2. Postpartum comfort levels

    Time frame: 2 hours after birth

    Postpartum comfort levels of the groups who received acupressure and shower in the postpartum period were evaluated.Postpartum comfort level has been evaluated with PPCQ.

  3. A maternal information form

    Time frame: before birth

    This form consisted of 13 items asking for the participants' sociodemographic characteristics

  4. Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VASP)

    Time frame: Evaluation was done until delivery (on average between 8-12 hours)

    This scale is a 0-10 cm ruler developed by Bond and Pilowsky (Hawker et al., 2011; Aslan and Öztürk, 2014; Kömürcü and Ergin, 2014; Bond and Pilowsky, 1996). VASP is a 10 cm ruler which assessment with "no pain" at one end and "worst pain" at the other end. A Turkish validity and reliability study of the VASP was performed by Aslan and Öztürk (Aslan and Öztürk, 2014; Kömürcü and Ergin, 2014; Aslan, 2004).

  5. Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PPCQ)

    Time frame: 2 hours after birth

    The 48-item General Comfort Scale, developed by Kolcaba (Kolcaba, 1994), was first adapted into Turkish in 2008 by Kuğuoğlu and Karabacak, who also conducted a Turkish validity and reliability study on the scale (Kuğuoğlu and Karabacak, 2008). Based on the Turkish version of the GCS, Karakaplan and Yıldız (Karakaplan and Yıldız, 2010) developed the PPCQ. The PPCQ is a 5-point questionnaire with 34 items. Participants give items between 1 (strongly agree) and 5 points (strongly disagree). The lowest score possible is 34, and the highest score is 170, with higher scores indicating higher comfort levels.

  6. Evalution labour pain

    Time frame: Evaluation was done until delivery (on average between 8-12 hours)

    VASP was evaluated before and after acupressure and shower applications.

  7. Evalution postpartum comfort

    Time frame: 2 hours after birth

    Postpartum Comfort levels were evaluated in the postpartum period.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kırklareli University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Acupressure and Shower Applied in the Delivery on the Intensity of Labor Pain and Postpartum Comfort

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Jul 27, 2021
Registry last updated
Jul 27, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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