The trends and hotspots of research on non-pharmacological interventions for labor pain management: a bibliometric analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine important points of focus, trends, and depth of research on non-pharmacological interventions for the management of labor pain worldwide from a macro perspective and present an extensive definition of research fields regarding non-pharmacological interventions. METHODS: Bibliometric methods were used in this study. With comprehensive keyword lists, the Web of Science and PubMed databases were searched using different screening strategies for publications made until 25 February 2023. RESULTS: Studies on non-pharmacological interventions in the management of labor pain have continued to develop since 2003 with great momentum. In this study, the most productive country in research on non-pharmacological interventions was found to be Iran, while Australia, the USA, China, and the United Kingdom were the most notable ones in terms of collaboration. The most prevalently studied non-pharmacological interventions were hydrotherapy and acupuncture. The results of the co-word analysis revealed 5 main themes about this field of research. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that interest in studies on non-pharmacological interventions in the management of labor pain has increased, the quality of research in the field is high, international collaboration is increasingly higher, and technological approaches have started to emerge in relevant studies.

The effect of cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing techniques on infertile women: a randomized controlled trial.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What effects do training programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) techniques applied to infertile women affected psychologically and emotionally by infertility have on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological development? DESIGN: This randomized controlled study was conducted between May 2021 and August 2022. The study population included 90 infertile women referred to the IVF unit of a hospital in a province in eastern Turkey: 30 in the CBT group, 30 in the EMDR group and 30 in the control group. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), the Validity of Cognition (VoC) scale, the Infertility Distress Scale (IDS), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Women in the experimental groups (CBT and EMDR groups) received the intervention in six sessions over 3 weeks. Pre-tests were administered to both experimental groups and the control group, and post-tests were conducted 3 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean scores on the SUDS, IDS and IES-R for women in the experimental groups were significantly lower compared with those for women in the control group following the interventions (P < 0.001). The mean scores on the VoC scale and PTGI for women in the experimental groups were significantly higher compared with those for women in the control group following the interventions (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of CBT and EMDR techniques reduced the negative psychological and emotional effects of infertility among infertile women.

The effect of emotional freedom technique and music applied to pregnant women who experienced prenatal loss on psychological growth, well-being, and cortisol level: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Research has shown that application of emotional freedom technique and music ensures psychological growth, increases well-being, and decreases cortisol level. PURPOSE: In the study, it was aimed to determine the effect of EFT and music applied to pregnant women who had experienced prenatal loss on their psychological growth, well-being, and cortisol level. METHODS: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial in a city hospital in eastern Türkiye with 159 pregnant women, 53 of whom were in the EFT, 53 in the music group, and 53 in the control group. The study data were collected through Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), Subjective Units of Experience (SUE) Scale, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and saliva samples were taken for cortisol evaluation. EFT was applied to the women two times every other week; the women in the music group listened to music two times every other week. Throughout the week following the first intervention, the women continued the interventions at home. RESULTS: It was determined that EFT and music significantly decreased the participants' subjective anxiety and salivary cortisol median scores, the lowest anxiety was in the EFT group, and PTGI and WHO-5 Well-Being Index mean scores increased (p < 0.005). Further analyses showed that EFT was more effective in terms of increasing well-being than music (p < 0.001; a > b > c). It was determined that the anxiety levels and salivary cortisol median values of the control group were statistically significantly higher compared to the EFT and music groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It was found that EFT and music applied to the women who had experienced prenatal loss decreased anxiety, ensured psychological growth, improved well-being, and decreased salivary cortisol level.

The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Sexual Counseling on Sexual Distress, Attitude Toward Sexuality, and Body Image Concerns in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual distress during pregnancy can cause a negative attitude toward sexuality during pregnancy, and this can be seen especially in conjunction with body image concerns. This study was conducted to determine the effects of mindfulness-based sexual counseling (MBSC) on sexual distress, attitudes toward sexuality, and body image concerns in pregnant women. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a sample of women who experienced sexual distress presenting to a Healthy Living Center in eastern Turkey. Women (N = 134) were randomly assigned to receive a 4-week, 8-session counseling program based on mindfulness (experimental group; n = 67) or treatment as usual (control group; n = 67). The primary outcome of the study, sexual distress, was assessed using the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised. Secondary outcomes included attitude toward sexuality, assessed using the Attitude Scale toward Sexuality during Pregnancy, and body image concerns, using the Body Image Concerns during Pregnancy Scale. Outcomes were compared postintervention, correcting for baseline using analysis of covariance. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04900194). RESULTS: Mean scores for sexual distress (7.69 vs 17.36; P < .001) and body image concerns (57.76 vs 73.88; P < .001) decreased significantly in the mindfulness group compared with the control group. Similarly, mean scores for attitudes toward sexuality significantly improved in the mindfulness group compared with the control group (133.52 vs 105.78; P < .05). DISCUSSION: MBSC is a promising strategy to help women experiencing sexual distress during pregnancy to reduce their levels of sexual distress, raise their positive attitudes toward sexuality, and lower their body image concerns. Larger clinical trials of MBSC are recommended to support introduction of MBSC into clinical practice.

The Effect of Foot Massage Applied to Turkish Women Living in Rural Areas on Sexual Distress and Sexual Self-Confidence: A Randomized Controlled Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to determine the effect of foot massage applied to women with sexual distress in rural areas on sexual distress and sexual self-confidence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted with women who applied to a family health center located in a rural area in northern Turkey and who had sexual distress. The research sample consisted of 84 women, 42 of whom were in the experimental group and 42 in the control group. While foot massage consisting of eight sessions and lasting 4 weeks was applied to the women in the experimental group, no such intervention was applied to the control group. Research data were collected by Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R) and Sexual Self-Confidence Scale (SSS). RESULTS: It was determined that the pre-intervention sexual distress and sexual self-confidence levels of the women in the experimental and control groups were similar and that the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). After the intervention, it was determined that the mean FSDS-R scores of the women in the experimental group decreased significantly, while the mean SSS score increased significantly, and the difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Foot massage can be used to reduce the level of sexual distress and increase sexual self-confidence in women with sexual distress. Health professionals who provide health services can use foot massage to positively improve sexuality in women.

Effect of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program on stress, anxiety, and childbirth fear in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a live online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in preventing distress, anxiety and childbirth fear in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Designed as a randomized-controlled trial, this study was performed with the participation of pregnant women who were diagnosed with COVID-19. The sample comprised 84 pregnant women, including 42 in the experimental group and 42 in the control group. The online MBSR program composed of eight sessions and lasting four weeks was provided to the pregnant women in the experimental group, whereas such an initiative was not provided to the control group. The data were collected via the Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire (CAQ). RESULTS: After the MBSR program, the mean NuPDQ, BAI and CAQ scores of the pregnant women in the experimental group were significantly lower than the mean scores of those in the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The online MBSR program may be utilized to reduce the distress, anxiety and childbirth fear levels of pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19. By using the MBSR program, health professionals might improve the psychological well-being of pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19.

Effects of deep tissue massage on pain and comfort after cesarean: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of deep tissue massage (DTM) applied by midwife on pain and comfort after cesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial conducted with experimental and control groups. The data were collected using a personal information form, visual analogue scale (VAS), the Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PPCQ). DTM was applied to participants in the experimental group twice (at the 10th and 22nd h) after cesarean. No applications were performed in the control group. RESULTS: According to the measurements, the mean VAS score of the mother in the experimental group was lower than that of the control group (17.51 ± 6.15, 56.16 ± 9.53; respectively) and PPCQ total and sub-dimension mean scores were found to be statistically significant in favor of the experimental group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was indicated that DTM application decreased the levels of pain and increased the comfort levels of the women who had cesarean sections.

Effect of episiotomy training with beef tongue and sponge simulators on the self-confidence building of midwifery students.

This study assesses the efficacy of simulation-based episiotomy training (SBET) with beef tongue and sponge models in terms of the self confidence of midwifery students while performing episiotomy. Third-year midwifery students from Cumhuriyet University in the fall semesters of 2011 and 2012 were enrolled in the sponge and beef tongue model groups (n = 36 and n = 37, respectively). A checklist was prepared on the required skills for performing episiotomy which can be broken into three main parts, namely preparation, cutting and repairing and completion. According to the checklist, a Likert type questionnaire was developed including 5 items for preparation, 11 items for cutting and repairing, and 6 items for completion. After SBET with the sponge and beef tongue models in our laboratories of Midwifery Department, the students performed episiotomy steps in laboring women in Sivas State Hospital and then they filled in the questionnaire to indicate whether they gained self-confidence in performing episiotomy or not. Although, participants of both groups have successfully completed all the steps of episiotomy, overall, beef tongue model was found to be more successful regarding their self-confidence (p < 0.05), including the skills in performing local anesthesia; choosing needle holder, suture material and scissor for cutting; identifying apex, hymen and skin; using needle holder properly while penetrating into the skin, suturing vaginal mucosa until hymen, knotting, and suturing perineal muscles and skin. Our results suggest that while SBET with both models are applicable for episiotomy training of midwifery students in the laboratory setting, SBET with beef tongue model provides an additional increase in their self-confidence in the clinical settings.