Assessment of Efficiency of the Use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Labor Pain Relief

Abstract

Objective To determine the efficiency of low‐level electrical stimulation applied by a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit on labor pain relief. Design A prospective randomized controlled trial study. Setting The study was conducted at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a university hospital. Sample The sample included women who volunteered and met necessary criteria for each group: 64 women in the intervention group and 60 women in the control group. Methods A demographic data collection form, visual analog scale (VAS), labor observation form, neonatal observation form, and satisfaction form on TENS application were used as data collection tools. All data were analyzed using a statistical program. Chi‐squared test was used for the descriptive data, t test was used for the quantitative data, and regression analysis was used to determine the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. Results The VAS score means were calculated as 5.49 ± 0.98 for the intervention group and 7.71 ± 0.64 for the control group. VAS mean of the intervention group were less than the control group, which was statistically significant (p < .05). The duration of labor was 6.54 ± 2.34 hours for the TENS applied group and 8.11 ± 0.27 hours for the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p < .05). As a result, it was determined that TENS reduces VAS scores regarding labor pain, shortens duration of labor, its efficiency is independent of other variables, and it has no side effects. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice The low level electrical stimulation TENS unit reduces the VAS scores relating to labor pain, shortens the period of delivery, has no adverse effects, and its efficiency is independent from other variables. With these features, TENS application may reduce negative effects of severe labor pain on the health of the mother and infant and help pregnant women have satisfactory birth experiences. To determine the efficiency of low‐level electrical stimulation applied by a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit on labor pain relief. A prospective randomized controlled trial study. The study was conducted at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a university hospital. The sample included women who volunteered and met necessary criteria for each group: 64 women in the intervention group and 60 women in the control group. A demographic data collection form, visual analog scale (VAS), labor observation form, neonatal observation form, and satisfaction form on TENS application were used as data collection tools. All data were analyzed using a statistical program. Chi‐squared test was used for the descriptive data, t test was used for the quantitative data, and regression analysis was used to determine the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. The VAS score means were calculated as 5.49 ± 0.98 for the intervention group and 7.71 ± 0.64 for the control group. VAS mean of the intervention group were less than the control group, which was statistically significant (p < .05). The duration of labor was 6.54 ± 2.34 hours for the TENS applied group and 8.11 ± 0.27 hours for the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p < .05). As a result, it was determined that TENS reduces VAS scores regarding labor pain, shortens duration of labor, its efficiency is independent of other variables, and it has no side effects. The low level electrical stimulation TENS unit reduces the VAS scores relating to labor pain, shortens the period of delivery, has no adverse effects, and its efficiency is independent from other variables. With these features, TENS application may reduce negative effects of severe labor pain on the health of the mother and infant and help pregnant women have satisfactory birth experiences.