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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04543487

Therapeutic Touch on Labour Pain, Anxiety and Childbirth Attitude

Introduction: Touching ensures physical, emotional and spiritual relaxation, confidence, peace, calmness and well-being, and increases self-esteem. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of therapeutic touch on labour pain, anxiety and childbirth attitude.

Methods: The sample of this randomized controlled experimental research consisted of 80 (intervention group: 40; control group: 40) women. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Visual Analogue Scale, State Anxiety Inventory and Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire.

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Key information

Conditions

First Pregnancy Anxiety Disorders Labor Pain Mental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Vaginal Delivery

Age range

19 year–41 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Sukran Ertekin Pinar

Sivas, Turkey, 58140, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Having a first pregnancy
  • Not having a high-risk pregnancy
  • Having no health problems with the baby or herself
  • Having a single foetus
  • Being about to have a vaginal delivery
  • Not receiving infertility treatment
  • Not having a chronic physical or psychiatric diagnosis
  • Agreeing to participate in the research

Exclusion criterion

-Multiparity

Treatment and study plan

Therapeutic Touch

Other

Therapeutic touch was applied twice to the women in the intervention group in addition to routine practices. The first application was performed in the active phase of the first stage of labour, and the second was done in the second stage of labour.

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analogue Scale

    Time frame: Baseline

    It is used to assess pain intensity. The scale is graded from 0 to 10 cm in length, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the most severe pain. It is applied by having the individual mark a point corresponding to the intensity of the pain they feel. The distance between the marked point and the lowest end of the line is measured in centimeters, and the resulting numerical value indicates the patient's pain intensity.

  2. State Anxiety Inventory

    Time frame: Baseline

    The inventory consists of four-degree evaluations ranging from "Not at all" to "Completely" in the Likert type. There are 20 items in the inventory, and the individual is required to define how he/she feels at a certain moment and under certain conditions, and to respond by taking into account his/her feelings about the situation he/she is in. High scores indicate high anxiety levels, and low scores indicate low anxiety levels.

  3. Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline

    This scale four-point Likert-type questionnaire consists of 16 items and high scores indicate greater anxiety. Scale scores are calculated by taking the average of the 16 items. The items on the scale are scored as follows: "1 = No anxiety ", "2 = Low anxiety ", "3 = Moderate anxiety " and "4 = High anxiety ". Each item on the scale is scored between 1 and 4.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Visual Analogue Scale

    Time frame: In the final stage of labor

    It is used to assess pain intensity. The scale is graded from 0 to 10 cm in length, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the most severe pain. It is applied by having the individual mark a point corresponding to the intensity of the pain they feel. The distance between the marked point and the lowest end of the line is measured in centimeters, and the resulting numerical value indicates the patient's pain intensity.

  2. State Anxiety Inventory

    Time frame: In the final stage of labor

    The inventory consists of four-degree evaluations ranging from "Not at all" to "Completely" in the Likert type. There are 20 items in the inventory, and the individual is required to define how he/she feels at a certain moment and under certain conditions, and to respond by taking into account his/her feelings about the situation he/she is in. High scores indicate high anxiety levels, and low scores indicate low anxiety levels.

  3. Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire

    Time frame: In the final stage of labor

    This scale four-point Likert-type questionnaire consists of 16 items and high scores indicate greater anxiety. Scale scores are calculated by taking the average of the 16 items. The items on the scale are scored as follows: "1 = No anxiety ", "2 = Low anxiety ", "3 = Moderate anxiety " and "4 = High anxiety ". Each item on the scale is scored between 1 and 4.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cumhuriyet University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Therapeutic Touch on Labour Pain, Anxiety and Childbirth Attitude

Acronym: touch

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Sep 10, 2020
Registry last updated
Feb 20, 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.

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