The effect of aromatherapy on pain, comfort and satisfaction during childbirth

Research was conducted in order to identify the effect of aromatherapy on pain, comfort and satisfaction during the first stage of childbirth, using a randomized controlled, quasi-experimental trial with control group. Study was conducted between 01.06.2016-02.08.2016 at the delivery room of Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health, Public Hospitals Administration, Adana Gynaecology and Paediatrics Hospital. The sample of the study was a total of 60 pregnant women who were admitted to the delivery room for vaginal delivery between the above mentioned dates and fit the participation criteria, and 30 of these women were in the control group whereas 30 were in the experimental group. For data collection, "Personal Information Form", "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)", "Childbirth Comfort Scale (CCS)" and "Postpartum Self-Assessment Scale"s "Satisfaction with Childbirth" sub-dimension were used. For data evaluation, percent distributions, chi-square significance test, independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used. In the Latent phase of childbirth, mean VAS was 3,4±2,1 in experimental group, 6,6±2,0 in control group; in the Active phase of childbirth, mean VAS was 6,1±1,7 in experimental group, 8,7±1,0 in control group; in the Transition phase, mean VAS was 8,3±0,9 in experimental group, and 9,8±0,5 in control group, and the difference between groups was significant in all phases (p=0.000). In the Latent phase of childbirth, mean CCS points was 3,4±2,1 in experimental group, 6,6±2,0 in control group; in the Active phase of childbirth, mean CCS points was 6,1±1,7 in experimental group, 8,7±1,0 in control group; in the Transition phase, mean CCS points was 8,3±0,9 in experimental group, and 9,8±0,5 in control group, and the difference between groups was significant in all phases (p=0.000). Mean value of Satisfaction with Childbirth points was 30,03±2,53 for the experimental group and 27,6±3,6 for the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.000). In this study, aromatherapy was found to reduce the perception of pain and increase the level of comfort and satisfaction during the first stage of childbirth. These results show that aromatherapy is a nursing intervention that is efficient in coping with labour pain and increasing the level of comfort and satisfaction. Key words: Aromatherapy, Labour pain, Comfort, Satisfaction, Nursing.