The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women

Background &Aim: Labor pain is an unpleasant experience for most women and can affect their birth satisfaction. This study investigated the effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women. Methods & Materials: T...

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Main Authors: Fateme Rahimikian, Shirin Shahbazi, Shelir Mohammadi*, Shima Haghani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2018-07-01
Series:Nursing Practice Today
Subjects:
Online Access:https://npt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/npt/article/view/371
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author Fateme Rahimikian
Shirin Shahbazi
Shelir Mohammadi*
Shima Haghani
author_facet Fateme Rahimikian
Shirin Shahbazi
Shelir Mohammadi*
Shima Haghani
author_sort Fateme Rahimikian
collection DOAJ
description Background &Aim: Labor pain is an unpleasant experience for most women and can affect their birth satisfaction. This study investigated the effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women. Methods & Materials: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on ninety primiparous women. Participants were randomly allocated to either an intervention or a control group. In the intervention group, an ice pack was placed on the sacral area of each participant in the active phase of labor for ten minutes. This intervention was repeated every thirty minutes up to the beginning of the second stage of labor. In both groups, labor pain intensity was assessed before and every one hour after intervention onset and birth satisfaction was assessed 24 hours after delivery. Data were analyzed through the SPSS software (v. 22.0). Results: Groups did not significantly differ from each other respecting participants’ demographic and clinical characteristics. Throughout the study intervention, labor pain intensity increased in both groups; however, the increase in the control group was significantly greater than the intervention group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the mean score of birth satisfaction in the intervention group was slightly greater than the control group, though this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.24). Conclusion: Without any significant side effects, ice pack application can significantly reduce pain intensity during the active phase of labor. Thus, this intervention is recommended for labor pain alleviation.
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spelling doaj.art-f28640be855d4ead97bd82770117bb412022-12-22T01:40:22ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesNursing Practice Today2383-11542383-11622018-07-0153The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous womenFateme Rahimikian0Shirin Shahbazi1Shelir Mohammadi*2Shima Haghani3Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran . Department of Reproductive Health Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Reproductive Health Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Reproductive Health Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranNursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBackground &Aim: Labor pain is an unpleasant experience for most women and can affect their birth satisfaction. This study investigated the effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women. Methods & Materials: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on ninety primiparous women. Participants were randomly allocated to either an intervention or a control group. In the intervention group, an ice pack was placed on the sacral area of each participant in the active phase of labor for ten minutes. This intervention was repeated every thirty minutes up to the beginning of the second stage of labor. In both groups, labor pain intensity was assessed before and every one hour after intervention onset and birth satisfaction was assessed 24 hours after delivery. Data were analyzed through the SPSS software (v. 22.0). Results: Groups did not significantly differ from each other respecting participants’ demographic and clinical characteristics. Throughout the study intervention, labor pain intensity increased in both groups; however, the increase in the control group was significantly greater than the intervention group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the mean score of birth satisfaction in the intervention group was slightly greater than the control group, though this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.24). Conclusion: Without any significant side effects, ice pack application can significantly reduce pain intensity during the active phase of labor. Thus, this intervention is recommended for labor pain alleviation.https://npt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/npt/article/view/371Ice packBirth satisfactionLabor painPain managementActive phase
spellingShingle Fateme Rahimikian
Shirin Shahbazi
Shelir Mohammadi*
Shima Haghani
The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women
Nursing Practice Today
Ice pack
Birth satisfaction
Labor pain
Pain management
Active phase
title The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women
title_full The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women
title_fullStr The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women
title_full_unstemmed The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women
title_short The effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women
title_sort effects of ice pack application on pain intensity in the active phase of labor and on birth satisfaction among primiparous women
topic Ice pack
Birth satisfaction
Labor pain
Pain management
Active phase
url https://npt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/npt/article/view/371
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