The effect of guided imagery and foot reflexology on pain intensity, duration of labor and birth satisfaction

This research was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effect of directed imagery and foot reflexology on labor pain, duration and birth satisfaction. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 120 primipara pregnant women, including the reflexology group, the directed imagery group, and the control group. 40 pregnant women were included in each group. Research In Turkey, Gaziantep Cengiz Gökçek Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital was built in the delivery room. "Personal Information Form", "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)", "Birth Satisfaction Scale" were used as data collection tools. When the cervical dilatation was 4cm, the imagery CD directed to the directed imagery group was watched, reflexology was applied to the reflexology group for a total of 30 minutes for each foot for 15 minutes. During this period, the duration of labor was measured and the Birth Satisfaction Scale was applied at the 2nd hour of the early postpartum period. It was determined that the mean VAS scores of the pregnant women in the experimental groups were lower than those in the control group (p <0.05). It was determined that the difference between the mean birth periods of the groups was statistically significant (p <0.05). The active, transition phase and second phase of the delivery were shorter in the pregnant women in the reflexology and guided imagery groups compared to the pregnant women in the control group. The mean birth satisfaction scores of the pregnant women in the reflexology and directed imagery groups were found to be higher than those in the control group (p <0.05). The mean pain scores of pregnant women in both experimental groups were found to be lower than those in the control group. It has been determined that reflexology and guided imagery practice shorten the active and transition phase and the second phase of labor and increase birth satisfaction. Keywords: Guided imagery, reflexology, pain intensity, duration of labor, birth satisfaction, nursing