Optimising recovery after perineal trauma : implementation of an evidence-based patient-centred care and clinical practice guideline

Marjan Khajehei, J. Swain, J. King, C. Compton, W. Wei, T. McGee, Seng Chai Chua, B. Gidaszewski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Perineal trauma and pain can affect the quality of life of women who experience vaginal birth. Aim: To investigate the effect of perineal care and pain management on women's postpartum recovery. Methods: This was a Quasi-experimental study. In Phase 1 women were treated using our old postnatal perineal care management guideline. In Phase 2 an updated guideline was introduced (regular administration of icepacks and analgesia during the first 24–48 h postpartum). During Phase 1, pregnant women planning a vaginal birth completed a baseline questionnaire. Those who sustained perineal trauma completed a survey at 24–48 h, seven days and 12 weeks after birth. In Phase 2 we continued recruiting participants, using the same procedure, and investigated the efficacy of pain relief approaches using the new guideline. Results: In Phase 1, 111 women (Group 1), and Phase 2, 146 women (Group 2) were recruited. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the women's pain catastrophising, their partner's responses to pain behaviours, or birth outcomes. At 24–48 h and seven days postpartum, women in Group 2 were less likely than women in Group 1 to be bothered by back or perineal pain, headache, sleeping difficulties and dizziness (p < 0.05). More women in Group 2 received regular paracetamol and perineal icepacks during their hospital stay, with less use of oxycodone in Group 2 than Group 1. Conclusion: The implementation of the guideline's recommendations was associated with decrease back and perineal pain, headache, sleeping difficulties and dizziness during the first seven days postpartum.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages7
JournalWomen and Birth
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2024

Open Access - Access Right Statement

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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