Anxiety, Aromatherapy, Childbirth, Fear, Midwifery, Pain Management
Conditions
Keywords
Pain, labor, childbirth fear, lavender oil, Chamomile oil, Swedish massage, aromatherapy
Brief summary
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Swedish massage combined with lavender and chamomile oils on childbirth outcomes during the first and second stages of labor. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with 90 pregnant women. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: Intervention A (n=30; carrier oil + chamomile oil + Swedish massage), Intervention B (n=30; carrier oil + lavender oil + Swedish massage), and Control (n=30; carrier oil + Swedish massage). Data were collected using the Individual Identification Form, Vital Signs (blood pressure and pulse), Partograph, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I and STAI-II), and the Childbirth Fear Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 23.0. The study was designed to compare the effects of Swedish massage combined with chamomile oil, lavender oil, or carrier oil on labor pain, anxiety, childbirth fear, physiological parameters, and selected birth outcomes during the first and second stages of labor.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Swedish massage combined with chamomile oil or lavender oil during the first and second stages of labor. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups: chamomile oil with Swedish massage, lavender oil with Swedish massage, and carrier oil with Swedish massage. Outcome measures included labor pain, anxiety, childbirth fear, maternal vital signs, duration of labor stages, and selected maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. Data were collected at predefined stages of labor using validated assessment tools.
Interventions
OTHERAromatherapy and Massage Care for labor pain management
Although lavender and chamomile oils have been used in midwifery practices in previous studies, no study has been found comparing the effects of Swedish massage
Sponsors
Kutahya Health Sciences University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
A researcher overseeing the study's conduct is Dr. Ayten Yılmaz, a faculty member at Düzce University. She is Türkiye's first doctoral aromatherapist
Intervention model description
Randomise controlled study
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* • Voluntarily participate in the study and provide written consent. * Ability to communicate and follow instructions. * Possess a general health/obstetric status sufficient to safely complete the research process. * No known allergies to aromatherapy inhalation or skin reactions.
Exclusion criteria
* Having a medical, psychiatric, or obstetric condition that could negatively affect the safety/validity of participation. * Being unsuitable for intervention due to conditions requiring acute/chronic treatment. * Using painkillers/sedatives, etc., that could affect the study results * Showing hypersensitivity to herbal/essential oils or carrier ingredients.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Labor pain intensity Visual Analog Scale | During Childbirth ( to 24 hours) | Measurement tool: Visual Analog Scale Measurement time: 4 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm cervical dilation and immediately after delivery. The scale is a 10 cm long scale used to assess pain intensity. Scores range from 0-100; higher scores indicate more severe pain. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| State anxiety level, state and trait anxiety scale I | Duration of first and second stage of labor servical opening 4-6 cm (up to 6 hours) | The scale consists of two subscales that measure state and trait anxiety. Each subscale comprises 20 items, with scores ranging from 20 to 80. Higher scores indicate a higher level of anxiety. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the Turkish form are between 0.83 and 0.87 for State anxiety level I and between 0.86 and 0.92 for Trait anxiety level. |
| Trait anxiety level, state and trait anxiety scale II | Duration of first and second stage of labor servical opening 6-10 cm (up to 4 hours) | State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Form II, a 20-item self-report instrument. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety. The instrument has demonstrated good reliability, with reported Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.83 to 0.87 in Turkish validation studies. |
| Delivery Fear Scale | During the first and second stages of labor. (up to 24 hours) | Fear of childbirth will be assessed using the Delivery Fear Scale, a 10-item self-report instrument developed to measure fear experienced during labor. Each item is scored from 1 to 10, resulting in a total score ranging from 10 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater fear of childbirth. The Turkish version of the scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.90. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHulya t Tosun, Phd. FM.
Kutahya Health Science University
Outcome results
None listed