Does Preoperative Pain Belief Affect Postoperative Pain and Breastfeeding?

Abstract

PurposeThis research was carried out to determine the relationship between pain belief of women who experienced cesarean section for the first time and their postcesarean pain and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels. DesignThe research is a descriptive study. MethodsThe study was conducted with 144 patients who had not undergone any surgical operation and had their first cesarean section. Data were collected with an introductory information form, pain beliefs questionnaire (PBQ), visual analog scale (VAS), and breastfeeding self-efficacy scale (BSES). FindingsThe patients' PBQ organic belief score (3.06 ± 0.61) was higher than their PBQ psychological belief score (1.87 ± 0.83), and their pain beliefs were based on an organic cause. The postcesarean section pain of the women was moderate-severe (6.75 ± 1.71), breastfeeding self-efficacy levels were high and sufficient (57.88 ± 4.86), and their pain beliefs were of organic origin. There was no significant relationship between patients' pain beliefs and postcesarean pain and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels. ConclusionsThe results of our study indicate that working status, income status, and chronic illness were associated with patients' pain beliefs, but we observed no relationship between pain beliefs and postcesarean pain and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels.