The relationship between locus of control and use of medication during labor.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between primigravid women's locus of control and use of medication in the first stage of labor. From a homogenous group of 40 women, 20 attended Lamaze classes and 20 attended other prenatal classes. Of these 40 women, 25 were found to be internally controlled and 15 were found to be externally controlled. Nine of the women in Lamaze classes were internally controlled and 11 were externally controlled. Sixteen of the women in other prenatal classes were internally controlled and four were externally controlled. No correlation was found between type of class attended and women's locus of control. Five women were removed from each group due to labor complications. Of the 30 remaining subjects, no correlation between locus of control and medication used during labor was found. Women attending Lamaze classes used significantly less medication during labor. A question to determine the relative importance of the use of medication during labor was added to the locus of control questionnaire. A significant number of women in Lamaze classes felt medication during labor was not important. The stated importance of medication during labor by some women was a stronger indicator of medication use than was locus of control. By knowing the felt importance of medication to the laboring woman, the nurse may be better able to predict the woman's medication use during labor