Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07384637

Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training After Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort

Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training after Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean Section Anxiety Disorders Behavior Mental Disorders Motor Activity Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

19 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Sivas, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The study consisted of a total of 129 women who underwent cesarean section (progressive relaxation exercise group: 43, planned training group: 43, control group: 43). Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale. Intergroup comparisons revealed statistically significant differences (p˂0.05) in the mean scores of the Visual Analog Scale, State Anxiety Inventory, Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale in the post-test after exercise and training for women in the exercise, training, and control groups. After progressive relaxation exercise and training, pain levels decreased in women in the exercise and training groups, anxiety levels decreased in women in the training group, and comfort levels increased in women in both the exercise and training groups.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • on the first postoperative day,
  • at least four hours after analgesic administration,
  • mobilized,
  • with their baby present,
  • their baby without any health problems,
  • without any physical or mental illness,
  • without communication problems,
  • who volunteered to participate were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • women who were not present on the first postoperative day,
  • had not received analgesic treatment for at least four hours,
  • were not mobile,
  • did not have their baby with them,
  • their baby had any health problems,
  • they had a physical or mental illness,
  • they had difficulty communicating,
  • they did not volunteer to participate were excluded from the study.

Treatment and study plan

Progressive Relaxation Exercise group

Behavioral

On the first postoperative day, the women were met with, informed, and their written consent was obtained. Women in the Progressive Relaxation Exercise group who met the inclusion criteria were administered the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale via face-to-face interviews on the first postoperative day. Completing all forms took 15-20 minutes. Relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. In the final test phase, the Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale were repeated on the second postoperative day.

Planned Education group

Behavioral

On the first postoperative day, the women were met with, informed, and their written consent was obtained. Women in the Planned Education group who met the inclusion criteria were administered the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale via face-to-face interviews on the first day. Completing all forms took 15-20 minutes. The training was conducted face-to-face by the researcher for each woman, in accordance with adult education principles, and lasted 30-45 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Scale

    Time frame: baseline

    The scale is graded as 0-10 cm long, with 0=no pain, 10=the most severe pain. It is applied by the individual marking a point corresponding to the level of pain they feel. The distance between the determined point and the lowest part of the line is evaluated in centimeters. The value found indicates the patient's pain level.

  2. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

    Time frame: Baseline

    The State Anxiety Inventory consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel at a specific moment under specific circumstances, taking into account their feelings about the situation. The Trait Anxiety Inventory also consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel in a given situation, regardless of the circumstances. High scores on both the State and Trait Anxiety Inventories indicate high anxiety levels, while low scores indicate low anxiety levels.The scale allows for scores ranging from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80.

  3. Postpartum Comfort Scale

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Postpartum Comfort Scale assesses the physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural comfort of women who have had both cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Physical and bodily perceptions constitute the physical comfort subscale. Spiritual and psychological components form the psychospiritual comfort subscale. Interpersonal, family, and social relationships, as well as components related to finances and support systems, constitute the sociocultural comfort subscale. The scale, which uses a five-point Likert scale, consists of 34 items. The lowest possible score is 34, and the highest is 170. Values close to 170 indicate a high level of comfort.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Scale

    Time frame: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section

    The scale is graded as 0-10 cm long, with 0=no pain, 10=the most severe pain. It is applied by the individual marking a point corresponding to the level of pain they feel. The distance between the determined point and the lowest part of the line is evaluated in centimeters. The value found indicates the patient's pain level.

  2. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

    Time frame: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section

    The State Anxiety Inventory consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel at a specific moment under specific circumstances, taking into account their feelings about the situation. The Trait Anxiety Inventory also consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel in a given situation, regardless of the circumstances. High scores on both the State and Trait Anxiety Inventories indicate high anxiety levels, while low scores indicate low anxiety levels.The scale allows for scores ranging from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80.

  3. Postpartum Comfort Scale

    Time frame: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section

    The Postpartum Comfort Scale assesses the physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural comfort of women who have had both cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Physical and bodily perceptions constitute the physical comfort subscale. Spiritual and psychological components form the psychospiritual comfort subscale. Interpersonal, family, and social relationships, as well as components related to finances and support systems, constitute the sociocultural comfort subscale. The scale, which uses a five-point Likert scale, consists of 34 items. The lowest possible score is 34, and the highest is 170. Values close to 170 indicate a high level of comfort.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cumhuriyet University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Feb 3, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 17, 2026

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.