Does Endorphin Massage Reduce the Anxiety of Pregnant Women?

Does Endorphin Massage Applied Before Cesarean Section Reduce the Anxiety of Pregnant Women?

Before cesarean section surgery, researchers will demonstrate endorphin massage to the husbands of pregnant women, and they will be asked to apply the massage before the surgery. The stress levels and pain levels of women will be compared before and after the massage.

The sample size of the research was calculated using G*Power 3.1.9.4 software as a minimum of 34 with 95% power, 0.01 alpha, and 0.9 effect size. The sample size was planned as experimental (n=34) and control (n=34) groups. To ensure the equality of the samples in both groups, a simple randomization method was used, where pregnant women with odd hospital protocol numbers will be included in the experimental group and those with even numbers will be included in the control group. Pregnant women who are admitted for pre-cesarean section care will be informed about the study, and their voluntary consent will be obtained both in written and verbal form. Pre-tests will be administered to both the experimental and control groups at 08:00, and blood samples will be taken to measure cortisol levels. Subsequently, an intervention will be applied to those in the experimental group, while those in the control group will receive routine nursing care. At 09:00, post-tests will be administered to both the experimental and control groups, and blood samples will be taken again to measure cortisol levels. The pre-test and post-test results, as well as the mean cortisol levels, will be compared between the experimental and control groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being admitted to the hospital for cesarean section
• Being willing to participate in the research

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having psychiatric illness
• native language not Turkish