The Effect of Distraction Techniques on Pain and Stress during Labor: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to determine the effect of distraction techniques on labor pain and stress (primary outcomes), fear of childbirth, and length of delivery stages (secondary outcomes). Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 68 pregnant women. Participants were allocated into two intervention and control groups by blocked randomization. Participants in the intervention group received distraction techniques in four sessions. Questionnaires of Fear of Childbirth (W-DEQ version A) and PSS once were completed before intervention and again at the 36th week for the W-DEQ and in the active phase for the PSS through interviews. The pain was assessed through VAS during active phase per hour. The length of delivery stages was recorded in the partograph chart. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and ANCOVA. Results The mean of perceived stress during labor in the intervention group was significantly less than that of the control group (AMD: -3.2; 95% CI: -0.8 to -6.0; P= 0.01). The mean (SD) of pain intensity was 6.2 (1.4) and 7.5 (1.4) in the intervention and control groups, respectively, which indicated a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). Although the mean score of fear in 36th week in the intervention group (29.1) was less than of the control group (39.1), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P= 0.170). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the length of the delivery stages (P>0.05). Conclusion According to the results, distraction techniques can reduce the pain and stress of labor, but further studies are needed to reach a decisive conclusion.

Effect of virtual reality application on the delivery stages length and maternal satisfaction

“…Frey et al (2019) also demonstrated that wearing 360-degree eyewear while viewing virtual reality video during the first stage of labor in shortening delivery length probably. Opposite to this, the results of our study in contrast to Amiri, et al, (2019), who clarified that there was no statistically significant difference in total length and duration of labor.…”

“…The findings of this study were comparable to those of Ebrahimian & Bilandi's (2020) study on "Comparations of the effects of watching virtual reality videos and chewing gum on the length of delivery phases and maternal labor satisfaction." Moreover, Amiri, et al, (2019) in "The influence of distraction tactics on pain and stress during labor" found no appreciable differences in the sociodemographic features of the two groups.…”

The Effect of Holistic Birth Support Strategies on Coping With Labor Pain, Birth Satisfaction, and Fear of Childbirth: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Controlled Trial

“…It was observed that women in the experimental group were able to cope with labor pain more effectively. Studies have shown that interventions by healthcare professionals that provide physical and emotional comfort (holding the woman’s hand, massage, changing position, allowing taking a warm shower, ensuring hygiene, saying words of appreciation, encouraging, making eye contact, appreciating, helping focus on positive things, providing spiritual care, breathing and relaxation techniques, and distraction) are effective in the management of labor pain (Amiri et al, 2019; Bohren et al, 2016; Steel et al, 2015 ). Our study results are consistent with the literature.…”