Fetal Well-Being, Maternal Anxiety, Pregnancy
Conditions
Brief summary
This study evaluated whether listening to music during routine non-stress test (NST) monitoring affects fetal parameters and maternal psychological outcomes. NST is a common prenatal assessment, and some pregnant women may experience anxiety or negative emotions during the procedure. Music listening is a non-pharmacological approach that may improve emotional well-being and potentially influence fetal responses. In this randomized controlled trial, pregnant women who attended an NST unit were assigned either to a music group that listened to music through headphones during NST monitoring or to a control group that received routine NST monitoring without music. Fetal parameters were assessed from NST recordings. Maternal anxiety, loneliness, and positive-negative affect were measured before and after the NST using validated questionnaires. The results of this study aim to inform supportive prenatal care practices and evaluate whether music listening can be used as a simple intervention during NST monitoring.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMusic Listening During NST
Participants listened to music through headphones during routine NST monitoring in a left lateral position for at least 20 minutes. The volume was adjusted according to participant preference.
Sponsors
Biruni University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Pregnant women attending the NST unit during the study period * Aged 18 years or older * Volunteered to participate and provided written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Inability to read and write Turkish * Hearing impairment or mental health conditions limiting participation * Multiple pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal State Anxiety | Baseline (pre-NST) and immediately post-NST (same visit) | Change in maternal anxiety measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State Form (STAI-S). Scores range from 20 to 80; higher scores indicate greater anxiety. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Loneliness (Social and Emotional Loneliness) | Baseline (pre-NST) and immediately post-NST (same visit) | Change in loneliness measured using the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults - Short Form (SELSA-S). Total scores range from 15 to 105; higher scores indicate greater loneliness. |
| Positive and Negative Affect | Baseline (pre-NST) and immediately post-NST (same visit) | Change in affect measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Each subscale ranges from 10 to 50; higher positive scores indicate more positive affect and higher negative scores indicate greater negative affect. |
| Fetal Heart Rate During NST | During NST monitoring (same visit) | Fetal heart rate assessed from NST recordings during the monitoring session. Measured in beats per minute; normal patterns (120-140/min) indicate better fetal well-being. |
| Fetal Movement Count During NST | During NST monitoring (same visit). | Number of fetal movements recorded by the mother using the event marker during NST monitoring. Higher counts indicate greater fetal activity. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORNİLGUN AVCI
Biruni University
Outcome results
None listed