Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Conditions
Keywords
Guided Imagery, Psychoeducation, Pregnancy, Nausea and Vomiting, Psychological Well-Being, Non-pharmacological Intervention
Brief summary
This study aims to evaluate the effect of a guided imagery-based psychoeducational intervention on nausea and vomiting severity and psychological well-being in pregnant women. The intervention includes structured psychoeducation and guided imagery sessions designed to promote relaxation, enhance symptom management, and improve overall well-being. Pregnant women in the first trimester experiencing nausea and vomiting were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received a four-session guided imagery-based psychoeducation program supported by home-based audio practice, while the control group received routine antenatal care. Outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention using standardized measurement tools.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled study was conducted to determine the effect of a guided imagery-based psychoeducational intervention on nausea and vomiting severity and psychological well-being in pregnant women. The study included pregnant women in their first trimester who were experiencing nausea and vomiting and met the inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received a structured psychoeducational program based on guided imagery techniques. The program consisted of four face-to-face sessions, each lasting approximately 20-25 minutes. The first session included information about the relationship between nausea, vomiting, and psychological processes, as well as an introduction to guided imagery. Participants were also provided with an audio recording to support daily home practice. In subsequent sessions, guided imagery techniques were applied to reduce nausea symptoms, enhance relaxation, and promote psychological well-being. Participants were encouraged to practice the technique regularly and especially during episodes of nausea. The control group received routine antenatal care without any additional intervention. Data were collected from both groups before and after the intervention using standardized instruments, including the Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) scale and a psychological well-being scale. The study was retrospectively registered. Ethical approval was obtained from the Inonu University Health Sciences Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 2024/5747).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALGuided Imagery-Based Psychoeducation
A structured psychoeducational program based on guided imagery techniques, consisting of four face-to-face sessions aimed at reducing nausea and vomiting symptoms and improving psychological well-being. Participants were instructed to practice guided imagery daily at home using standardized audio recordings.
Sponsors
Inonu University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation to reduce assessment bias.
Intervention model description
Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received a guided imagery-based psychoeducational program, while the control group received routine antenatal care.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Being 18 years of age or older * Being in the first trimester of pregnancy (≤14 weeks) * Experiencing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy * Having a singleton pregnancy * Being able to read and understand Turkish * Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria
* Having a high-risk pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa) * Diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum * Having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder or receiving psychiatric treatment * Having a condition that may prevent participation in guided imagery (e.g., hearing or cognitive impairment) * Previous experience with guided imagery or similar psychological interventions
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea and Vomiting Severity | Baseline and after completion of the 4-session intervention (approximately 2 weeks) | Nausea and vomiting severity will be assessed using the Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) scale. Higher scores indicate greater severity of symptoms. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological Well-Being | Baseline and after completion of the intervention (approximately 2 weeks) | Psychological well-being will be evaluated using a standardized psychological well-being scale. Higher scores indicate better psychological well-being. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
STUDY_CHAIRTuba Enise Benli
Giresun University
STUDY_CHAIRYeşim Aksoy Derya
Inonu University
STUDY_CHAIRKader Atabey
Inonu University
Outcome results
None listed