NCT05511571

Brief Summary

This study aimed to determine the effect of progressive relaxation exercises and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation administered to women delivering via cesarean section on acute pain, breastfeeding behavior, and comfort levels. Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study. This study was carried out in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a university hospital affiliated with the Ministry of Health in Turkey between August 20, 2018 and April 15, 2019. A total of 120 participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups, which included a transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) group, a progressive relaxation exercises (PRE) group, a combined intervention (TENS+PRE) group, and a control group. Data were collected with a data collection form, the visual analogue scale (VAS), the LATCH breastfeeding diagnostic tool (LATCH), and the postpartum comfort scale (PCS). In the analysis of the data, numbers, percentages, and chi-square tests were used. Also, median values, Wilcoxon Signed-rank test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test were employed for continuous variables.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
120

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2018

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 20, 2018

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 15, 2019

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 15, 2019

Completed
3.3 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 17, 2022

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 23, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

August 23, 2022

Status Verified

August 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

8 months

First QC Date

August 17, 2022

Last Update Submit

August 19, 2022

Conditions

Keywords

cesarean sectionpainbreastfeedingcomfortmuscle relaxationtranscutaneous electrical neural stimulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in acute pain

    The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used in the evaluation of acute pain.

    VAS was applied in the first eighth hour during the postoperative 48 hours, before and after each application in the intervention groups, and in the control group at the times corresponding to the applications in the intervention groups.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in breastfeeding behavior

    LATCH was applied in the first eighth hour (before the first application) during the postoperative 48 hours. It was applied again on the first and second days when all interventions were completed.

  • Change in comfort level

    Postpartum Comfort Scale was applied in the first eighth hour (before the first application) during the postoperative 48 hours. It was applied again on the first and second days when all interventions were completed.

Study Arms (4)

TENS group

EXPERIMENTAL

Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS)

Device: Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS)

PRE group

EXPERIMENTAL

Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE)

Other: Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE)

TENS+PRE group

EXPERIMENTAL

Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) and Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE)

Other: Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) and Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE)

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

The TENS group: TENS application was implemented by the researchers in the patient room. The conventional TENS application took 30 minutes per session. The application continued until frequency reached 100 Hz, the pulse width reached 100 μs, and the current impedance reached a point where the women felt needling or tingling according to their tolerance. Before the application, the women were asked to lie in a supine position, and the area/skin where TENS would be applied was cleaned and dried. Two electrodes of TENS were placed 2 cm above the cesarean incision, and the other two electrodes 2 cm below the incision. The women were allowed to rest during the application, and they were accompanied by the researcher. A total of five TENS sessions, including two at four-hour intervals on the first day and three at eight-hour intervals on the second day, were held.

TENS group

The PRE group: The PRE application was implemented in the patient room. A quiet and calm environment was prepared in the room for the intervention. The PRE application was implemented by the women under the researchers' instructions. Each session lasted 30 minutes. A total of five sessions, including two at four-hour intervals on the first day and three at eight-hour intervals on the second day, were held. The PRE application includes exercises based on stretching and then the relaxation of different muscle groups, accompanied by deep breathing. The exercises were carried out in the following way: First doing a deep breathing exercise and then stretching all the muscles from feet to face accompanied by breathing in, keeping the breath, and finally relaxing the muscles by breathing out at the same time.

PRE group

The TENS+PRE group: The PRE and TENS applications were carried out together in this group. The administration of the interventions was the same as in groups where only TENS and only PRE applications were carried out. In this group, first, a 30-minute PRE application was implemented, which was followed by a 30-minute-TENS application.

TENS+PRE group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 45 Years
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • women who were aged between 18 and 45,
  • who were in the postoperative 8th hour,
  • who had a transverse cesarean section,
  • who, as well as their babies, did not develop any complications during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period.

You may not qualify if:

  • women who did not have an open wound on their body and/or allergic disease on their skin,
  • who had cardiac arrhythmia or a pacemaker,
  • who had a risk of epilepsy,
  • who had epilepsy, eclampsia, kidney or liver disease,
  • who had previously applied TENS and PRE methods,
  • who were morbidly obese (with a BMI value of over 40),
  • who used chronic opioids, antidepressants, and psychoactive drugs.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Health Sciences

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acute PainPainBreast Feeding

Interventions

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsFeeding BehaviorBehavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation TherapyTherapeuticsPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRehabilitationAnalgesiaAnesthesia and Analgesia

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 17, 2022

First Posted

August 23, 2022

Study Start

August 20, 2018

Primary Completion

April 15, 2019

Study Completion

April 15, 2019

Last Updated

August 23, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-08

Locations