The Effect of Stress Ball Intervention During Non-Stress Test on Anxiety and Fetal Well-Being in High-Risk Pregnancy

Launched by HÜMEYRA TÜLEK DENİZ · Mar 6, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether using a stress ball can help reduce anxiety and improve the well-being of unborn babies during a non-stress test (NST) for women with high-risk pregnancies. In this study, pregnant women who are at higher risk due to conditions like diabetes or hypertension will be randomly assigned to two groups: one will use a stress ball during the NST, while the other will receive standard hospital care without any special intervention. The stress ball technique involves squeezing and releasing the ball while focusing on it and breathing in and out, and this will continue for about 20 minutes during the test.

To participate, women must be over 18, at least 32 weeks pregnant with a single baby, and have a medically diagnosed high-risk condition. They also need to be able to read and write in Turkish and agree to take part in the study. However, those with certain complications, like fetal distress or specific health issues, won’t be eligible. Participants will complete questionnaires about their anxiety levels before and after the NST to help researchers understand the impact of the stress ball intervention. This study aims to find ways to make high-risk pregnancies safer and more comfortable for both mothers and their babies.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Volunteering to participate in the research,
• • Being over 18 years of age,
• • Having a medically diagnosed risky condition during pregnancy (diabetes, hypertension, the threat of premature birth, eclampsia, etc.)
• • Compliance with at least one of the criteria in the "Ministry of Health Pregnancy Risk Assessment Form" in the evaluation of "Current Pregnancy" (Table 1)
• • Being at or above the 32nd week of pregnancy,
• • Having a single living fetus,
• • Having eaten at least two hours before the NST procedure,
• • Not having smoked or consumed alcohol at least two hours before the NST procedure,
• • Knowing how to read and write Turkish.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Deceleration or uterine contraction during NST,
• • Presence of cardiovascular disease in the fetus,
• • Presence of fetal distress,
• • Presence of fetal anomaly,
• • According to the physician, urgent intervention is needed,
• • Having a diagnosed psychiatric disease,
• • Having a visual, hearing, speaking, physical or mental disability.