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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06905821

Effects of Antenatal Education on Birth Perception, Fear, and Readiness

Birth is a multi-dimensional and unique experience for every woman, and it is influenced by a woman's social life. Fear of childbirth is a common issue that affects women's health and well-being before, during, and after pregnancy. The thought that childbirth will be painful triggers fear of childbirth. Fear of childbirth is closely related to the perception of traumatic birth. Antenatal education is important in coping with childbirth pain and traumatic birth pain, but the aim of adult education is not just to inform, but also to change individuals' perspectives on events. The transformative learning theory is a model used to change individuals' perspectives on events. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of antenatal education based on the transformative learning theory on traumatic birth perception, fear of childbirth, and birth preparedness in pregnant women. The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with 54 participants. Data collection forms included a personal information form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, the Prenatal Self-Assessment Scale, and the Wijma Birth Expectancy/Experience Scale. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 23.0 (Chicago, Illinois) version was used for data analysis. Histogram and Q-Q plots, and the Shapiro-Wilk test were used to assess the normality of the data distribution. Descriptive data regarding women's demographic characteristics were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and mean values. Differences in demographic characteristics between groups were examined using the independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test. Pre-test and post-test scores of the groups were analyzed using the independent sample t-test. A significance level of p<0.05 was accepted.

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Key information

Age range

20 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kastamonu

Kastamonu, 37150, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Be between the ages of 20-35
  • Be in the 30-32 weeks of gestation
  • Be a primigravida
  • Have at least basic literacy skills

Exclusion criteria

  • Have any chronic diseases
  • Have any psychiatric disorders
  • Be a high-risk pregnancy
  • Have any communication problems
  • Have communication issues

Treatment and study plan

Transformational Learning-Based Antenatal Education Program

Behavioral

The Transformational Learning-Based Antenatal Education Program helps pregnant women reduce birth-related anxiety and fear by utilizing transformational learning theory. Unlike traditional antenatal education, it emphasizes psychological preparedness, focusing on emotional well-being and coping strategies. The program includes interactive learning, group discussions, and self-reflection to engage participants actively. This approach aims to boost women's confidence and reduce stress as they approach labor and delivery.

Primary outcomes

  1. Perception of Traumatic Birth

    Time frame: Baseline: Week 30 of pregnancy (pre test); An average of 3 weeks (post test)

    This will be assessed using the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale.The scale, developed by Yalnız et al. (2016), is called the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale. It is designed to assess the traumatic birth perception levels of women of reproductive age. It consists of 13 items that encompass the thoughts and emotions, such as anxiety, fear, and concern, that a woman experiences when thinking about childbirth. For each item, respondents rate their feelings on a scale from 0 ("no fear") to 10 ("extreme fear"). The total average score indicates the level of traumatic birth perception. The lowest and highest possible scores on the scale are 0 and 130, respectively. As the score increases, it reflects a higher perception of traumatic birth. The score ranges are as follows: 0-26 indicates very low, 27-52 low, 53-78 moderate, 79-104 high, and 105-130 indicates very high levels of traumatic birth perception. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the scale is 0.89.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Childbirth Readiness

    Time frame: Baseline: Week 30 of pregnancy (pre test); An average of 3 weeks (post test)

    The Childbirth Readiness Subscale (PKDÖ-DHOÖ) was developed by Lederman in 1979 to assess women's adaptation to motherhood during the prenatal period. The scale, consisting of 79 items and using a 4-point Likert-type scale, was validated and tested for reliability in Turkey by Beydağ and Mete (2008). The scale includes 7 subscales: thoughts about the health of oneself and the baby, acceptance of pregnancy, acceptance of the maternal role, childbirth readiness, fear of childbirth, relationship with the mother, and relationship with the spouse. These subscales can be used independently. The general Cronbach's alpha for the Turkish version of the scale is 0.81, and the internal consistency reliability coefficients for the subgroups range from 0.72 to 0.85 (Beydağ & Mete, 2008). Scores on the scale range from 10 to 40. The Cronbach's alpha value for the Childbirth Readiness Subscale (DHOÖ) is 0.72. As the score increases, it indicates a lower level of readiness for childbirth.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kastamonu University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Antenatal Education Based on Transformative Learning Theory on Traumatic Birth Perception, Fear of Birth, and Birth Readiness in Pregnant Women: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: EA-BPFR

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Apr 1, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 1, 2025

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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