The effect of solution-focused brief therapy on anxiety and pain intensity in nulliparous women during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic

Introduction: Anxiety of labor pain can lead to an impaired course of labor. Emotional support during pregnancy and childbirth has been reported to be effective in the reduction of labor anxiety. However, many Iranian mothers could not attend childbirth preparation classes due to the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) on anxiety and pain intensity in nulliparous women in the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was implemented on ۱۱۰ nulliparous pregnant women, who could not attend childbirth preparation classes due to the COVID-۱۹ pandemic, at Hakim Hospital in Neyshabur from September to December ۲۰۲۰. Samples were randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups (each with ۵۵ subjects). The intervention group received SFBT in a personal counseling session before beginning labor pain and the control group received routine care. The participants were sampled by the block randomization method. Data collection tools were a demographic information questionnaire, Spielberger anxiety inventory, and visual analog scale.Findings: There were significant differences between the mean scores of pain intensity and anxiety between stages (P < ۰.۰۰۱, P < ۰.۰۰۱). The interaction of group and stages (P = ۰.۰۰۲, P = ۰.۰۰۳) and the independent effect of the group were also significant (P < ۰.۰۰۱, P < ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: The SFBT approach reduces anxiety and pain intensity in nulliparous women who do not participate in childbirth preparation classes.

Keywords:

Anxiety , Labor Pain , Delivery , Obstetric , Solution-Focused Brief Therapy , COVID-۱۹ .