Shared Pain: Lessons from the Labour Room in Istanbul

Patricia K Morley-Forster

doi:10.1155/2004/951623

Abstract

The current issue of Pain Research & Management contains an article by Yildirim and Sahin (pages 183-187) from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey). At first glance, this paper appears to be of interest only to those involved in the day-to-day care of women in labour, but a closer look reveals significant lessons for those dedicated to the improvement of pain management globally.

Highlights

This randomized clinical trial, conducted in 40 low-risk pregnant women at the SSK Bakirkoy Women and Children’s Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey), demonstrated that education about nonpharmacological methods of pain relief, continuous nursing support and massage techniques significantly reduced both the severity of pain and the emotional distress of labour for women
The International Association for the Study of Pain has recently been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to increase global awareness of poorly relieved acute pain and to highlight the burden of chronic noncancer pain
On October 11, 2004, the WHO and the European Federation of the International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters cosponsored a Global Day Against Pain urging the need for pain relief to be seen as a human right and asking governments to recognize unrelieved pain as a pressing problem

Summary

Introduction

This randomized clinical trial, conducted in 40 low-risk pregnant women at the SSK Bakirkoy Women and Children’s Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey), demonstrated that education about nonpharmacological methods of pain relief, continuous nursing support and massage techniques significantly reduced both the severity of pain and the emotional distress of labour for women. The International Association for the Study of Pain has recently been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to increase global awareness of poorly relieved acute pain and to highlight the burden of chronic noncancer pain. Absent from the press releases was any statement expressing the need to improve the lot of millions of women throughout the world who give birth in intense pain with no offer of relief.

Results

Conclusion