Gert A Klabbers1, Klaas Wijma2, K Marieke Paarlberg3, Wilco H M Emons4, Ad J J M Vingerhoets1. 1. a Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology , Tilburg University , Tilburg , the Netherlands. 2. b Unit of Medical Psychology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden. 3. c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Gelre Hospitals , Apeldoorn location , the Netherlands. 4. d Department of Methodology and Statistics , Tilburg University , Tilburg , the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of haptotherapy on severe fear of childbirth in pregnant women. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING:Community midwifery practices and a teaching hospital in the Netherlands. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: Primi- and multigravida, suffering from severe fear of childbirth (N = 134). METHODS:Haptotherapy, psycho-education via Internet and care as usual were randomly assigned at 20-24 weeks of gestation and the effects were compared at 36 weeks of gestation and 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Repeated measurements ANOVA were carried out on the basis of intention to treat. Since there were crossovers from psycho-education via Internet and care as usual to haptotherapy, the analysis was repeated according to the as treated principle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fear of childbirth score at the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire. RESULTS: In the intention to treat analysis, only the haptotherapy group showed a significant decrease of fear of childbirth, F(2,99) = 3.321, p = .040. In the as treated analysis, the haptotherapy group showed a greater reduction in fear of childbirth than the other two groups, F(3,83) = 6.717, p < .001. CONCLUSION:Haptotherapy appears to be more effective in reducing fear of childbirth than psycho-education via Internet and care as usual.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of haptotherapy on severe fear of childbirth in pregnant women. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Community midwifery practices and a teaching hospital in the Netherlands. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: Primi- and multigravida, suffering from severe fear of childbirth (N = 134). METHODS: Haptotherapy, psycho-education via Internet and care as usual were randomly assigned at 20-24 weeks of gestation and the effects were compared at 36 weeks of gestation and 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Repeated measurements ANOVA were carried out on the basis of intention to treat. Since there were crossovers from psycho-education via Internet and care as usual to haptotherapy, the analysis was repeated according to the as treated principle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fear of childbirth score at the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire. RESULTS: In the intention to treat analysis, only the haptotherapy group showed a significant decrease of fear of childbirth, F(2,99) = 3.321, p = .040. In the as treated analysis, the haptotherapy group showed a greater reduction in fear of childbirth than the other two groups, F(3,83) = 6.717, p < .001. CONCLUSION: Haptotherapy appears to be more effective in reducing fear of childbirth than psycho-education via Internet and care as usual.
Entities:
Keywords:
Pregnant women; birth; fear of childbirth; haptotherapy; treatment
Authors: M A M Baas; M G van Pampus; C A I Stramrood; L M Dijksman; J W Vanhommerig; A de Jongh Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-02-10 Impact factor: 4.157