J Korean Soc Matern Child Health.  2021 Oct;25(4):269-281. 10.21896/jksmch.2021.25.4.269.

Effects of the Unpleasant Symptom-Relief Program on Preterm Labor Stress, Anxiety, Physical Discomfort, and Situational Discomfort among Hospitalized High-Risk Pregnant Women: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial

• Kim GN
• Jun EY

• KMID: 2521995
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2021.25.4.269

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effects of the Unpleasant Symptom-Relief Program to mitigate preterm labor stress, anxiety, physical discomfort, and situational discomfort in hospitalized high-risk pregnant women.
Methods
This study used a nonequivalent control group nonsynchronized design and analyzed 23 participants from the experimental group and 23 from the control group. The participants from both the groups were matched and diagnosed with preterm labor, incompetent internal os of the cervix, preterm premature rupture of membrane, placenta previa, or gestational diabetes mellitus. The effects of the Unpleasant Symptom-Relief Program were measured using tools such as preterm labor stress, anxiety, physical discomfort, and situational discomfort. The data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 21.0 using descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, paired t-test, and repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results
The Unpleasant Symptom-Relief Program was effective in reducing preterm labor stress (F= 8.24, p=0.001), anxiety (F=17.80, p≤0.001), and situational discomfort (F=5.95, p=0.004). However, it was not effective in reducing the physical discomfort (F=1.20, p=0.311). Post hoc analysis between time points revealed effective reduction in the preterm labor stress and anxiety in both the groups immediately after the end of the program and at 7 days after the program. Situational discomfort was reduced at 7 days after the end of the program in both the groups.
Conclusion
The Unpleasant Symptom-Relief Program can be applied in practice by nurses. It can contribute to alleviating the symptoms and discomfort of high-risk pregnant women.

Keyword

Anxiety, Discomfort, High-risk pregnancy, Obstetric nursing, Preterm labor

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Flow chart of the study participants.

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