Creating a Positive Perception of Birth Experience: The Effect of Birth Theater

Uskudar University60 enrolled

Overview

This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to evaluate the effect of birth theater, conducted in addition to conventional childbirth preparation education, on pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth. A total of 60 pregnant women participated in the study, with 30 assigned to the intervention group and 30 to the control group. The intervention group received conventional childbirth preparation education in addition to a 4-hour birth theater intervention consisting of two sessions, during which vaginal and cesarean birth scenarios were enacted. The control group received only conventional childbirth preparation education. Data were collected face-to-face using a Participant Information Form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, and the Fear of Birth and Readiness for Birth subscales of the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.

This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of birth theater, implemented in addition to conventional childbirth preparation education, on pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth and related psychological outcomes. A total of 60 pregnant women participated in the study. 30 participants were assigned to the intervention group and 30 to the control group. Both groups received conventional childbirth preparation education. The intervention group additionally participated in a birth theater intervention consisting of two sessions with a total duration of 4 hours. During the birth theater sessions, vaginal birth and cesarean birth scenarios were enacted to provide pregnant women with an experiential opportunity to observe and understand the childbirth process. The control group received only conventional childbirth preparation education consisting of six 4-hour classes. Data were collected face-to-face using a Participant Information Form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, and the Fear of Birth and Readiness for Birth subscales of the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Interventions

Birth theaterBEHAVIORAL

Childbirth preparation classes were held for 3 hours, twice a week, and in addition, one day a week was dedicated to simulated cesarean and vaginal birth scenarios. In addition to the total of 18 hours of childbirth preparation training, a 4-hour hands-on simulation experience was conducted. During this phase, 2 hours were devoted to simulating a vaginal birth and 2 hours to simulating a cesarean birth.

Standard Childbirth Preparation EducationBEHAVIORAL

Participants in the control group received standard childbirth preparation education without birth theater.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Primiparous women. * Women who applied for childbirth preparation education. * Women between 20 and 38 weeks of gestation. * Women who can speak and understand Turkish. * Women aged 18 years or older. * Women who complete the childbirth preparation education. Exclusion Criteria: * Women with high-risk pregnancies. * Women with a planned cesarean delivery. * Multiparous women. * Women who do not complete the childbirth preparation education.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale

In the internal consistency analysis conducted to determine the reliability of the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.895. The scale consists of 13 items, with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 130. On this scale, which uses a rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, the mean total scores are as follows: * 0-26 points is classified as "very low," * 27-52 points is classified as "low," * 53-78 points is classified as "moderate," * 79-104 points is classified as "high," * 105-130 points is classified as "very high." A higher score on the scale indicates a higher level of perceived traumatic childbirth.

Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention.

Secondary Outcomes

Prenatal Self-Evaluation Scale

The Prenatal Self-Assessment Scale is a 79-item, 4-point Likert-type scale with seven subscales: thoughts about own and baby's health, acceptance of pregnancy, acceptance of the maternal role, readiness for childbirth, fear of childbirth, relationship with own mother, and relationship with partner. Each subscale contains 10-15 items. Internal consistency is high (α=0.81), with subscale coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.85. Items 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10,11,12,14,15,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,28,31,32,33,35,37,38,40,47,48,49,50,53,55,56,59,60,61,70,71,72,73,74,75,78,79 are reverse-scored. Response options are 4=Strongly agree, 3=Somewhat agree, 2=Slightly agree, 1=Strongly disagree; reverse-scored items are scored oppositely. Total scores range from 79 to 316; lower scores indicate better adjustment to pregnancy.