Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training After Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort

Cumhuriyet University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean Section

Treatments: Behavioral: Progressive Relaxation Exercise group; Behavioral: Planned Education group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07384637

TR SİVAS 07

SFF-2022-096 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training after Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort

Full description

The study consisted of a total of 129 women who underwent cesarean section (progressive relaxation exercise group: 43, planned training group: 43, control group: 43). Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale. Intergroup comparisons revealed statistically significant differences (p˂0.05) in the mean scores of the Visual Analog Scale, State Anxiety Inventory, Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale in the post-test after exercise and training for women in the exercise, training, and control groups. After progressive relaxation exercise and training, pain levels decreased in women in the exercise and training groups, anxiety levels decreased in women in the training group, and comfort levels increased in women in both the exercise and training groups.

Enrollment: 129 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 19 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• on the first postoperative day,
• at least four hours after analgesic administration,
• mobilized,
• with their baby present,
• their baby without any health problems,
• without any physical or mental illness,
• without communication problems,
• who volunteered to participate were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• women who were not present on the first postoperative day,
• had not received analgesic treatment for at least four hours,
• were not mobile,
• did not have their baby with them,
• their baby had any health problems,
• they had a physical or mental illness,
• they had difficulty communicating,
• they did not volunteer to participate were excluded from the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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129 participants in 3 patient groups

Progressive Relaxation Exercises after Cesarean Section

Experimental group

Description:

Progressive relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. Before starting the exercise, the environment was made quiet and free from external disturbances. The patient was also seated comfortably, and standard meditation music was played during the exercise. Progressive relaxation exercises combine the contraction and relaxation of large muscle groups such as the face, arms, legs, neck, and back with deep breathing. The exercises were performed by taking a deep breath, tensing the muscles, maintaining this tension for 5-7 seconds, and then relaxing the muscles (15-20 seconds). Throughout the exercise, the individual was instructed to continue breathing slowly and deeply through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Progressive Relaxation Exercise group

Planned Training after Cesarean Section

Experimental group

Description:

The training group received pre-planned training based on the literature. The training content included topics such as postpartum uterine changes, bleeding and vaginal discharge, elimination, sleep and rest, postpartum blues, medication use, initiation of sexual intercourse, timing of the resumption of menstruation, contraceptive methods, nutrition, breast care and breast problems, infant care, breastfeeding, and infant vaccinations. During the training, educational materials such as illustrated guides on family planning were used, and an educational brochure prepared by the researcher based on the literature was also given to the women after the training. The training was conducted face-to-face with each woman by the researcher, in accordance with adult education principles, and lasted 30-45 minutes. In addition, training methods such as lecturing, question-and-answer, discussion, brainstorming, and problem-solving were used during the training.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Planned Education group

Standard of care Group

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group received no treatment. They only received standard hospital care procedures along with the Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale (pre-test, post-test).