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NCT Number: NCT01600495

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Pain Relief During the Active Phase of Labor

The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for pain relief in the early active phase of labor. The research will be of type randomized controlled trial, consisting of low-risk nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Reference Center for Women's Health in Ribeirão Preto. Mothers will be divided into two groups (the use of lumbosacral TENS) and control (routine maternity) and will be evaluated before and after therapy, which corresponds to 30 minutes between 4-5 cm of cervical dilation. The evaluation will be performed by numerical category scale, location and Pain Diagram McGll Pain Questionnaire (short form). After the delivery will be a questionnaire of customer satisfaction.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

15 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

centro de referência para a saúde da mulher Ribeirão Preto

Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14048-900, Brazil

About this study

Pain in the work appears as a subjective experience of interaction, involving a wide individual influences physiological, psychosocial and environmental factors, representing a major clinical signs of this phase. Despite presenting an important biological function, is now well established the need for their relief, since its persistence is associated with detrimental effects for both mother and fetus. Among non-pharmacological resources available, the investigators highlight the massage therapy that has shown positive effects in relieving pain and promote comfort of the mother. The objective of this research is to evaluate the efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for pain relief in the early active phase of labor. The research will be of type randomized controlled trial, consisting of low-risk nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Reference Center for Women's Health in Ribeirão Preto. Mothers will be divided into two groups (lumbosacral massage) and control (routine maternity) and will be evaluated before and after therapy, which corresponds to 30 minutes between 4-5 cm of cervical dilation. The evaluation will be performed by numerical category scale, location and Pain Diagram McGll Pain Questionnaire (short form). After the delivery will be a questionnaire of customer satisfaction. After collecting the data, the groups are statistically analyzed using the linear regression model with mixed effects (fixed and random), taking into account a value of p <0.05 for statistical significance of 5%.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • primigravida
  • literate
  • A single fetus in vertex position
  • Low-risk Pregnancy
  • From 37 weeks of gestation
  • Cervical dilatation between 4 and 5 cm with uterine dynamics normal for this stage
  • Labor in early spontaneous
  • No use of medications during the study period
  • Absence of cognitive or psychiatric problems
  • Intact membranes
  • No risk factors associated
  • Who wish to participate and signed the informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • TENS procedure intolerance
  • Use of any medication or procedure that promotes pain relief
  • Use of pacemaker

Treatment and study plan

Experimental TENS

Other

Use of Transcutaneous Nerve Electrical Stimulation in the lumbosacral region for 30 continuous minutes in the active phase of labor (4-5 cm).

Primary outcomes

  1. Classification of Pain During Labor by Visual Analogue Scale

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    To evaluate the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation as a resource for pain relief during the active phase of labor will be used the Visual Analogue Scale.

    Visual analogue scale (VAS): this scale, represented by a rule, the patient estimated pain on a scale of 100 mm (at one end labeled "no pain" associated with a score of 0 mm and at the other end "worst pain imagined" with a score 100 mm)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Evaluation of TENS During the Active Phase of Labor Over the Use of Analgesia

    Time frame: 10 hours

    Consider whether the TENS therapy during the active phase of labor could defer request for analgesia use for pain relief for pregnant women. The cervical dilation indicates the value in centimeters (0-10) of cervical dilation. Assessed on admission and during labor by doctors (according to the routine of the institution), as recorded in medical records.

  2. Duration From Start of Labor Until Birth

    Time frame: 10 hours

    The length of time of labor, specified number of minutes since the opening of the partograph (early labor) until the birth of the child.

  3. Number of Participants Who Were Satisfied With the Presence of a Professional/Physiotherapist During Labor.

    Time frame: 10 hours

    Simple questionnaire (Questionnaire satisfaction of parturients with comparision with experience in this study) developed for this study with 3 items (yes, no and do not want to answer) to assess satisfaction of mothers in the intervention group and the control group regarding the presence of a professional during the period of study and experience in this work.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Sao Paulo

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Transcutaneous Nerve Electrical Stimulation for Pain Relief in Nulliparous Women in Active Phase of Labor

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2013
First posted
May 17, 2012
Registry last updated
Oct 5, 2015

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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