None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
A significant proportion of women struggle with anxiety and stress during pregnancy, and this can affect the health of both the mother and her baby. Relaxation interventions might be helpful, however the evidence is not conclusive. The purpose of this feasibility study is to explore the potential of two programs aimed at helping to decrease anxiety during pregnancy: 1. a partner delivered relaxation massage program; and 2. a self-directed stress management program. Pregnant women will be invited to participate in the study and randomly assigned to one of the two programs.
Interventions
The purpose of this feasibility study is to explore the potential of partner delivered relaxation massage maternal anxiety during pregnancy.
Partner-delivered relaxation massage program
Women allocated to this program, will be invited with their partner to attend a 2 hour workshop about mental health and relaxation massage techniques. The workshop will take place at Monash University’s Peninsula campus and be conducted by an experienced midwife and a qualified massage therapist. Following the
The purpose of this feasibility study is to explore the potential of partner delivered relaxation massage maternal anxiety during pregnancy. Partner-delivered relaxation massage program Women allocated to this program, will be invited with their partner to attend a 2 hour workshop about mental health and relaxation massage techniques. The workshop will take place at Monash University’s Peninsula campus and be conducted by an experienced midwife and a qualified massage therapist. Following the massage workshop, women and their partners will be asked to undertake twice-weekly 20 minute relaxation massages at home until birth. Women will be given an instructional DVD and a manual about the massage techniques. Women will be invited to attend refresher training as required. Following the workshop, women will be asked to complete a short monthly online questionnaire which will assess anxiety levels. Women will also be asked to complete a weekly online log book, and participate in a face-to-face or telephone interview 4-6 weeks after the birth of their baby.
Sponsors
Moansh University Nursing and Midwifery
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Pregnant women who have moderate anxiety as measured by the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Index (STAI); a low risk pregnancy: are between 24 and 32 gestation at the start of the intervention; aged 18 years or older and able to read and speak English; who commit to attending the workshop with a partner, and if allocated to the massage intervention group, commit undertaking home practice of relaxation massage at least twice a week for the remainder of their pregnancy.
Exclusion criteria
Women: History of a major mental illness including psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorders; high risk pregnancy or known obstetric complications, a score 13 or higher on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Cohen et al., 1983) or who answer in the affirmative to question 10 indicating that they have considered self-harm (referral to primary pregnancy care provider or GP). Women with touch adverse, fibromyalgia or other pre-pregnancy pain and/or touch perception/sensory conditions will also be excluded. If a woman develops a complication after recruitment, she will be advised to withdraw from the intervention arm of the study. Partners (identified by the woman): unable to attend the workshop or to commit to massage practice.
Outcome results
None listed