Caring nurses may ease birth fears, small study suggests
NCT ID NCT07321457
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a special type of nursing care, based on Watson's Human Caring Theory, could help reduce fear of childbirth and improve the overall birth experience. Thirty women with uncomplicated vaginal births were randomly assigned to receive either this personalized emotional support or routine care. Researchers measured fear and experience using standard questionnaires, aiming to see if a more caring approach makes a difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Watson's Human Caring Theory-Based Nursing Care (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, non-drug way to help mothers feel less afraid and have a more positive birth experience.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, completed trial with only 30 participants, so results may not apply to all women. The intervention is behavioral and depends on the nurse's skill, making it hard to standardize.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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30 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Finished
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Mar 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women ≥18 years, at 37-41 weeks of gestation, Pregnant women in the active phase of labor (cervical dilation ≥ 3 cm). Pregnant women who presented with spontaneous labor were directed to vaginal de-livery after physician evaluation. Pregnant women carrying a single fetus in a vertex presentation. Pregnant women with an estimated fetal weight between 2500 4000 grams. Pregnant women undergo regular uterine contractions characteristic of the active phase. Pregnant women who are literate in Turkish. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women younger than 18 years. Pregnant women older than 45 years. Pregnant women with multiple pregnancies. Pregnant women with a history of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Pregnant women in the latent phase with cervical dilation \< 3 cm. Pregnant women who received spinal, epidural, or general anesthesia during la-bor. Pregnant women with a previous cesarean section (C/S). Pregnant women with a history of uterine surgery. Pregnant women whose delivery resulted in an emergency cesarean section. Pregnant women diagnosed with a mental disorder. Pregnant women showing signs of tokophobia (clinical fear of childbirth. Pregnant women who were separated from their newborn baby for medical reasons after delivery. Pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia. Pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Pregnant women with placenta anomalies (placenta previa, placental abruptio, etc.). Pregnant women with chronic diseases (DM, HT, etc.). Pregnant women with infectious diseases or active infections. Pregnant women with anemia. Pregnant women with fetal macrosomia. Pregnant women with vaginal bleeding. Pregnant women with abnormal vital signs. Pregnant women with presentation anomalies (breech, transverse)
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Burhan Nalbantoglu state hospital
Nicosia, Cyprus
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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