Effects of Massage, and/or Hot Compress, on Pain Level during Active Phase and Perception of Childbirth Experience among First-Time Laboring Women

Abstract

This research aimed to studythe effects of massage, a hot compress, and combination of massage and a hot compress on pain level during active phase and perception of birth experience among first time laboring women. The Melzack and Wall’ Gate Control Theory was applied as a conceptual framework of the study.The sample was women who had childbirth at the Phatthalung Hospitaland recruitedby purposive sampling. The samples consisted of 63 first time laboring women and random assignment was used to determine an experimental condition: massage, a hot compress, and combination of massage and a hot compress, which done by the researcher, for a 21 samples in each group. The Stewart’s Color Pain Rating Scale and Perception of birth Experience Questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, One-Way ANOVA and multiple comparisons test. The results revealed that the first time laboring women who received a combination of massage and a hot compression had a pain level in the active phase of labor lower, and had a birth experience higher thanthose who received only massage or a hot compress was significantly statisticallyand the first time laboring women who received hot massage did not have different pain level in the active phase of labor, and a birth experience from those who received a hot compress.The results of this study indicated that using a combination of pain reduction method could apply to care laboring women effectively.