@article{58e088c552164897be8557ab59b98957,
title = "Antenatal education incorporating complementary medicine techniques to reduce birth interventions: A randomised control trial",
abstract = "BackgroundA previous randomised controlled trial at two Sydney, Australian hospitals found that a novel antenatal education program of integrative complementary therapies significantly reduced rates of interventions for low risk primiparous women.AimThis study aimed to: (i) replicate the program in a different state and recruit from a more diverse group of women, and (ii) provide further evidence of generalisability of the program as part of a meta-analysis.MethodsLow to moderate risk women were randomised to either standard hospital antenatal classes at 24-36 weeks{\textquoteright} gestation or to the intervention group of complementary therapy education workshops in conjunction with standard care. Outcomes included psychological measures as assessed by validated scales, and birth interventions including epidural and caesarean. Outcomes were analysed by intention-to-treat.ResultsIn total, 178 primiparous women were randomised (n=88 intervention group, n=90 Standard care), Pre-existing medical conditions and demographic characteristics were similar in both groups. No statistical differences were found between groups for birth interventions, though women in the intervention group were less likely to use an epidural (47.7% vs 56.7%) and more likely to experience a vaginal birth (52.3% vs 42.2%) than women who received standard care alone. Attitude to childbirth scores were statistically significantly higher for women who attended the intervention as compared to standard care (59.1 vs 54.3 p0.001). This was also reflected in higher Labour Agentry scores demonstrating women in the intervention group felt an increased sense of coping and control during labour and birth.ConclusionsFindings from this study contribute to a larger prospective meta-analysis design to determine if the educational intervention reaches statistical significance for reduced operative birth.",
keywords = "Women, antenatal education, labour and Birth, complementary Therapies",
author = "Julie-Anne Fleet and Pamela Adelson and Lois McKellar and Mary Steen",
year = "2023",
month = sep,
day = "5",
doi = "10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.042",
language = "English",
volume = "36",
journal = "Women and Birth",
issn = "1871-5192",
publisher = "Elsevier",
number = "Supplement 1",
note = "Australian College of Midwives National Conference : Be the Change ; Conference date: 12-09-2023 Through 14-09-2023",
}