Perineal Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual Reality, stress ball, non-pharmacology, episiotomy repair, perineal repair, Pain Management
Brief summary
This study is a four-arm randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for pain management during episiotomy repair among women undergoing vaginal birth. Participants will be allocated to one of four groups: virtual reality, stress ball, combined virtual reality plus stress ball, or control. The virtual reality intervention is intended to provide immersive distraction, while the stress ball offers tactile distraction; the combined group receives both interventions simultaneously. The control group receives routine care only. The primary outcome is pain intensity measured during the procedure using the Visual Analog Scale. Outcome data will be compared across groups to identify the most effective intervention for reducing pain during episiotomy repair. This study may provide evidence for practical, safe, and low-cost supportive strategies that can improve maternal comfort during childbirth procedures.
Interventions
DEVICEvirtual reality
Use of virtual reality goggles during episiotomy repair as a non-pharmacological pain management intervention.
OTHERstress ball
Use of a stress ball during episiotomy repair as a non-pharmacological pain management intervention.
OTHERVirtual Reality Plus Stress Ball
Combined use of virtual reality goggles and a stress ball during episiotomy repair as a non-pharmacological pain management intervention.
Sponsors
University of Baghdad
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 42 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Women aged 18 to 42 years 2. Able to communicate and understand the study procedures 3. No vision, hearing, or perception problems 4. No physical problems preventing squeezing a stress ball 5. No diabetes mellitus 6. Undergoing episiotomy repair after vaginal birth 7. Willing to participate and provide informed consent
Exclusion criteria
1. Pre-existing chronic pain conditions 2. Severe perineal tear (3rd or 4th degree) 3. Development of any complication during the procedure 4. Women who did not consent to participate in the study 5. Women undergoing episiotomy repair with local anesthetic infiltration
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale | Periprocedural | Pain intensity during episiotomy repair will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale 0 to 10 scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain possible. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Pain scores will be compared cross the virtual reality, stress ball, combined virtual reality plus stress ball, and control groups |
Countries
Iraq
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTORNuha adel Ibrahim, Dr
University of Baghdad
Outcome results
None listed