EFFECTS OF LABOUR PAIN COPING ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ON PAIN SCORES AND PERCEIVED CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCES IN PRIMIPAROUS MOTHERS

Abstract

Abstract

Ineffective coping with labour pain leads to severe labour pain and negative perception of childbirth experiences. This quasi-experimental study of two groups with posttest only design aimed to determine the effects of labour pain coping enhancement program on pain score and perceived childbirth experiences in primiparous women. Sixty primiparous women with the age between 20 to 35 years old and giving birth at Samutprakarn Hospital were selected into the study by convenience sampling. The first 30 women were assigned to a control group receiving routine nursing care while the rest were assigned to an experimental group receiving both program and routine nursing care. Data were collected by using numerical pain scale with split-half coefficients 0.86, and perceived childbirth experience questionnaire having Cronbach’s alpha coefficients .80. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and independent t-test. Results revealed that the experimental group had significantly lower pain score (t58 = -4.89, p< .01) and higher perceived childbirth experience score (t58 = 3.52, p< .01) when compared to the control group. Therefore, midwives might apply this program to help woman relive labour pain and have positive perceived childbirth experiences.