Abstract
ObjectiveChildbirth pain and anxiety are often unnatural, as opposed to being one of the most practical ways to use non-pharmacological methods. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality and chewing mint gum on childbirth pain and anxiety.MethodsThis is a single-blind, three-group clinical trial study on 93 mothers referred to Allameh Bohlool Gonabadi and Sajjadieh Torbate Jam Hospitals for natural childbirth in 2018–2019. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups of chewing gum, virtual reality, and control using six blocks. Chewing gum interventions in one group and virtual reality in the other group were performed twice in 4–5 cm and 7–8 cm dilatations for 20 min. In the control group, no intervention except routine care was performed. The research tools included Visual Analogue Scale of Pain and Spielberger’s Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using SPSS) version 22(, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Chi-square and Tukey tests. Significance level was considered 0.05 in this study.ResultsThe main result was differences in pain and anxiety before and after the intervention. There was no significant difference between pre-intervention pain and anxiety scores in the three groups, but there was a significant difference between pain and anxiety scores immediately and 30 min after the intervention.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that virtual reality and chewing mint gum intervention reduce pain and anxiety in the first stage of childbirth.Trial registrationIRCT20181214041963N1.
Highlights
Childbirth has been described as a painful physiological phenomenon throughout women’s lives
According to Tukey’s test, the mean anxiety 30 min after the intervention was not significantly different between the two intervention groups (P 0.847), but the mean anxiety was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.001)
Results of ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test for anxiety before intervention, immediately after intervention and 30 min after intervention in 7–8 cm dilation in study groups showed that there was a statistically significant difference between anxiety before and after intervention in 7-8 cm dilatation in the three study groups, according to the Tukey’s test, the mean anxiety before intervention (7–8 cm dilatation) was not significantly different between the two intervention groups (P = 0.488), but the mean anxiety was significantly lower than the control group(P < 0.001)
Summary
Childbirth has been described as a painful physiological phenomenon throughout women’s lives. Studies show that about 60% of nulliparous women and 40% of multiparous women describe severe childbirth pain [4]. Anxiety due to anxiety with increased epinephrine and norepinephrine causes vasoconstriction, increased muscle tone, decreased uterine contractility, and abnormalities of childbirth [5]. Factors such as stress, uneducated, and unawareness and lower socioeconomic status can cause severe pain. Adverse effects of severe pain on the neonate can be attributed to the late decline in heart rate due to decreased maternal arterial oxygen pressure, low Apgar score, fetal heart sound disorder, uterine-placental abnormality due to severe uterine
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
