Empatical communication based education effect on positive birth perception awareness and birth experience

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of empathic communication-based training on positive birth perception and experience. Material and Methods: The study was conducted as an experimental type with pregnant women who applied to the obstetrics outpatient clinics of Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital between June, 2023 and September, 2024. The sample size was determined as 72 people with a confidence interval of 80% and a margin of error of 5% in the G*Power 3.1.9.7. program. Control (n:36) and experimental (n:36) groups were formed by probability random sampling method. The study was carried out in three stages; the first was the development of the Positive Birth Perception Awareness Scale (PBPSAS), the second was the development of the Empathic Communication-Based Positive Birth Guide for training, and the third and final stage was the evaluation of the difference between the groups with the training intervention. The data of the study were collected using the "Pregnant Introductory Form", "PDAFÖ" and "WDBDÖ-A". Descriptive statistics, validity and reliability analyses, chi-square test and t-test in dependent and independent groups were used to analyze the data. Results: It was determined that the PDAFS is a reliable measurement tool consisting of 28 items and 6 sub-dimensions. The study groups were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics. In the comparison of the mean scores of the research groups at the first follow-up and the last follow-up of the PDAS, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the total and all subdimensions of the PDAS (p<0.05). In the comparison of the Wijma Birth Anticipation/Experience Scale total score of the research groups, the mean total score of WBAS in the control group was 74.16±8.54 at the first follow-up and 79.88±12.24 at the last follow-up, and a significant difference was found between the mean scores of the control group at the first and last follow-up (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that the PDAFS was a valid and reliable measurement tool, and the training provided in line with the Empathic Communication-Based Positive Birth Perception Awareness Guide increased women's positive birth experience and positive birth perception awareness and decreased fear of childbirth. Keywords: Empathic Communication, Positive Birth Perception Scale, Midwifery Care, Birth Experience