Alternative Method: Chewing Gum in Labor

Biruni University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Labor Pain

Treatments: Other: experimental group (gum group)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06959940

Chewing gum in labor

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a clinical trial. It aimed to examine the effects of chewing gum on pain, anxiety, fatigue, and thirst in pregnant women (47 experiments; 47 controls) in the first stage of labor. Criteria for inclusion in the study: Pregnant women who gave birth vaginally; voluntarily accept to participate in the research. Exclusion criteria from the study: Pregnant women who have auditory or mental health problems; whose baby dies during labor, who with cervical dilatation of 5 cm or more, who receiving epidural anesthesia, do not like chewing gum, have difficulty chewing, such as weak/loose-fitting dentures. The pain, anxiety, fatigue, and thirst levels of the pregnant women in the control group were evaluated with scales every two hours until their dilatation reached 5 cm. Pregnant women in the experimental group chewed gum and their pain, anxiety, fatigue and thirst levels were evaluated with scales every two hours until their dilation reached 5 cm.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Chewing gum during labor is not effective in reducing pain, anxiety, fatigue, and thirst levels.
• Chewing gum during labor; It is effective in reducing the level of pain.
• Chewing gum during labor; It is effective in reducing anxiety.
• Chewing gum during labor; It is effective in reducing thirst.
• Chewing gum during labor; It is effective in reducing fatigue. Routine medical treatment of pregnant women continued all groups. Only pregnant women who in the experimental group chewed gum also.

Full description

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of chewing gum on pain, anxiety, fatigue and thirst in pregnant women in the first stage of normal labor.

Methods: The study was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental manner. The universe consisted of all pregnant women who applied to the delivery room of a public institution between April and November 2022. Power analysis was used to determine the sample. 94 pregnant women (47 experiments;47 controls) were included in the study. The study was started after the approval of the ethics committee and the institution. As a data collection tool in the research;"Personal Information Form","Gum Chewing Follow-up Form" and "Pregnant Follow-up Form" were used.

Enrollment: 94 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Vaginal delivery,
• Who volunteered to participate in the research

Exclusion criteria

• Have auditory or mental health problems,
• The baby dies during labour,
• Cervical dilatation of 5 cm or more,
• Receiving epidural anaesthesia,
• People who don't like chewing gum,
• Chewing difficulties due to weak/loose prostheses

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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94 participants in 1 patient group

This research is planned with experimental design

Experimental group

Description:

After the pregnant woman in the control group was admitted to the delivery room, the data collection tools "Personal Information Form" and "Pregnant Follow-up Form" were applied. Pregnancy Follow-up Form consists of pain, anxiety, fatigue and thirst scales. The VAS pain, anxiety, fatigue, and thirst scales contains numbers evenly spaced (0-10) on a line. It is an evaluation scale filled out by patients stating their current pain, anxiety, fatigue, and thirst level by giving a number. The cut-off point of the VAS anxiety and thirst scales were found to be four. In VAS anxiety, scores above this cut-off point indicate deviation from normal and individuals must be handled by professionals. IN VAS thirst, patients who score above this score are considered to be experiencing dehydration symptoms.

Treatment:

Other: experimental group (gum group)