| Description |
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of physical touch and touch relaxation as supportive procedures upon the mother's physiological response and her ability to cope with her labor contractions. It was hypothesized that the application of the nurse's hands to the mother as supportive physical touch and touch relaxation, combined with suggestion of relaxation and controlled breathing during labor, would increase the mother's comfort and ability to cope with her contractions. The study consisted of 16 women: eight primigravidas who had childbirth preparation and eight multigravidas who did not have childbirth preparation for this pregnancy. The supportive procedures were alternately applied to and withheld from each patient in active labor during "sets" of five contractions. The physiological responses were measured on the basis of blood pressure and pulse rate readings. The ability of the mother to cope with her labor contractions was rated in terms of behavioral responses in five areas: vocal response, physical response, breathing response, facial expression response, and verbal response in terms of attitude toward particular contractions. A graduate and a basic nursing student were trained as raters by the researcher. These two raters alternately worked with the research measuring and recording blood pressure, pulse rate, and the behavioral responses at the end of each "set" of five contractions. The rates were not informed of the experimental (supportive) and control (non-supportive) procedures carried out by the researcher. The study showed that the differences between means of supportive and non-supportive paired procedures were significant at the .05 level in all but four of the total 28-paired findings. There were seven pairs of systolic pressures, seven pairs of diastolic pressures, seven pairs of pulse rates, and seven pairs of behavioral scores for each subject. When mothers received supportive procedures, they had lower blood pressures and pulse rates and higher behavioral scores than when these procedures were withheld. In the total seven supportive procedures, the mean systolic pressure was 118.88 mm Hg, the mean diastolic pressure was 75.77 mm Hg, the mean pulse rate was 78.1 beats/minute, and the mean behavioral score was 8.06. In the total seven non-supportive procedures, the mean systolic pressure was 123.11 mm Hg, the mean diastolic pressure was 79.03 mm Hg, the mean pulse rate was 84.14 beats/minute, and the mean behavioral score was 6.18. In summary, the results of the study supported the hypothesis that physical touch and touch relaxation by the nurse during labor could help the mother to cope more effectively with her contractions. The results were demonstrated by a more optimal vital sign range and better behavioral responses. However, further research to show the influences of anxiety and other emotional reactions upon the change of vital signs and behavioral responses by using the Sturrock Labor Coping Scale is still warranted for confirmation of the findings of this study. |
