The Effects of Breathing Exercises and Virtual Reality Applications During Pregnancy and Labor.

Summary

Aim and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of breathing exercises and virtual reality applications during pregnancy and labor on labor pain, duration, and birth satisfaction.

Background: Conducted studies show that practices such as virtual reality have positive effects on labor. However, there is no study that compares the effects of breathing exercises with virtual reality applications on labor.

Design: A randomized controlled experiment was conducted by the CONSORT guidelines.

Methods: The study included 114 pregnant women (Breathing Exercise Group:39, Virtual Reality Group:37, Control Group:38). The research was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, for the experimental groups at the 36th-39th weeks of pregnancy, a 10-minute breathing exercise was performed 3 times a week using virtual reality glasses and a breathing exercise device. In the second stage of the study (when the cervical dilatation was 4 cm), the breathing exercise group was made breathing exercises again. The virtual reality group watched a 10-minute video with virtual reality glasses. Once the virtual reality glasses were removed from experimental groups Visual Analogue Scale was applied. Birth satisfaction was evaluated with the Birth Satisfaction Scale within the first 4 hours after the delivery was completed.

Conditions

• Labor Pain
• Labor Onset
• Patient Satisfaction
• Virtual Reality
• Breathing; Tic

Interventions

OTHER

Breathing Exercise

The research was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, for the experimental groups at the 36th-39th weeks of pregnancy, a 10-minute breathing exercise was performed 3 times a week using virtual reality glasses and a breathing exercise device. In the second stage of the study (when the cervical dilatation was 4 cm), the breathing exercise group was made breathing exercises again. As soon as the virtual reality glasses and breathing exercise device were removed, VAS was applied. In order to evaluate the second and third stages of labor, the birth evaluation section of the labor observation form was filled out. Satisfaction with birth was evaluated with the ''Birth Satisfaction Scale'' within the first 4 hours after birth after the delivery was completed.

OTHER

Virtual Reality

The research was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, for the experimental groups at the 36th-39th weeks of pregnancy, a 10-minute breathing exercise was performed 3 times a week using virtual reality glasses and a breathing exercise device. In the second stage of the study (when the cervical dilatation was 4 cm) the virtual reality group watched a 10-minute video with virtual reality glasses. Once the virtual reality glasses were removed from experimental groups Visual Analogue Scale was applied. Birth satisfaction was evaluated with the Birth Satisfaction Scale within the first 4 hours after the delivery was completed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Semra Çevik, phD

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

19 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-10-15

Primary Completion

2022-01-15

Completion

2022-05-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations