Not provided
| ID | Type | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUBITAK 2209-A | Other Identifier | The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey | OTHER |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
This study was conducted to understand how different body positions during fetal monitoring affect pain and comfort in obese pregnant women. Fetal monitoring is a routine procedure used during pregnancy to check the baby's well-being. During this procedure, pregnant women are usually asked to lie still for a period of time, which may cause discomfort, especially for women with obesity.
The study included obese pregnant women in their third trimester who attended obstetrics outpatient clinics and underwent routine fetal monitoring. During the monitoring process, women were placed in one of three different positions: supported left side-lying, unsupported left side-lying, or lying on the back. Pain and comfort levels were assessed during and immediately after the fetal monitoring procedure.
The aim of this study was to determine which position provides greater comfort and less pain for obese pregnant women during fetal monitoring. The findings of this study may help health care professionals choose more comfortable positioning options and improve the overall pregnancy care experience for obese pregnant women.
Fetal monitoring is a commonly used procedure during pregnancy to assess fetal well-being by recording the fetal heart rate and uterine activity. Although it is a routine and non-invasive procedure, remaining in the same position for an extended period of time may cause discomfort and pain, particularly in obese pregnant women. Maternal obesity is known to increase physical strain and may negatively affect comfort during clinical procedures.
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different maternal positions applied during fetal monitoring on pain and comfort levels in obese pregnant women. The study was conducted with pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria and attended obstetrics outpatient clinics for routine fetal monitoring. Participants were assigned to one of three maternal positions during the monitoring process: supported left side-lying, unsupported left side-lying, or supine position.
During the fetal monitoring procedure, participants' pain and comfort levels were assessed using appropriate measurement methods. The primary focus of the study was to compare maternal comfort and pain perception across different positions during fetal monitoring. Understanding how positioning affects maternal comfort may contribute to improved clinical practices and enhance the quality of care provided to obese pregnant women during routine prenatal monitoring.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported Left Lateral Position | Experimental | Participants underwent electronic fetal monitoring while lying in a supported left lateral position using pillows for positioning support. |
|
| Unsupported Left Lateral Position | Experimental | Participants underwent electronic fetal monitoring while lying in an unsupported left lateral position without additional positioning aids. |
|
| Supine Position | Experimental | Participants underwent electronic fetal monitoring while lying in the supine (back-lying) position. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maternal Positioning during NST | Behavioral | This intervention involves placing pregnant women at 28-40 weeks of gestation in specific positions (supported left lateral, supine, or left lateral without support) during Non-Stress Test (NST) monitoring. Each participant remains in the assigned position for 20-40 minutes while fetal heart rate is recorded using EFM. Pain/discomfort and overall comfort are assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and General Comfort Scale immediately after the intervention. The intervention is distinguished from other studies by the randomized allocation of three positional groups and simultaneous evaluation of maternal comfort and fetal monitoring outcomes. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal Comfort during NST | Maternal overall comfort during Non-Stress Test (NST) will be assessed using the General Comfort Scale (Short Form). The scale consists of 28 items evaluating three sub-dimensions: relief, ease, and transcendence. Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates low comfort and 6 indicates high comfort. The assessment will be conducted immediately after the NST while the participant remains in the assigned position (supported left lateral, supine, or left lateral without support). This measure evaluates the effect of maternal positioning on overall comfort during fetal monitoring." | Immediately after NST |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| General Comfort Scale Score | Maternal overall comfort during Non-Stress Test (NST) will be assessed using the General Comfort Scale (Short Form). The scale consists of 28 items evaluating three sub-dimensions: relief, ease, and transcendence. Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates low comfort and 6 indicates high comfort. The assessment will be conducted immediately after the NST while the participant remains in the assigned position (supported left lateral, supine, or left lateral without support). This measure evaluates the effect of maternal positioning on overall comfort during fetal monitoring. |
Not provided
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| demet çakır, Assistant Professor | Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Department of Midwifery | Principal Investigator |
| Hatice melike evrin, Master's Student | Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Department of Midwifery | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokat State Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NST Room | Tokat Province | Tokat Province | 60100 | Turkey (Türkiye) |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Evrin HM, Demet B; Effects of Maternal Position on Fetal Comfort during NST; Presented at the 2023 Kocaeli Midwifery Congress, Turkey; Unpublished |
| Label | URL |
|---|---|
| Related Info | View source |
Not provided
Individual participant data from the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and General Comfort Scale assessments will be shared, including participant age, gestational week, and body mass index (BMI). Data will be de-identified to protect participant privacy.
De-identified IPD and supporting information will be available from March 1, 2026, for a period of 2 years, upon reasonable request.
De-identified individual participant data (VAS scores, General Comfort Scale results, age, gestational week, BMI) along with study protocol, informed consent form, and data dictionary/codebook will be available to other researchers upon reasonable request. Access will be granted after approval by the study principal investigator via secure data sharing platform or email.
Not provided
Not provided
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D000079262 | Pregnancy in Obesity |
| D010146 | Pain |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D011248 | Pregnancy Complications |
| D005261 | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications |
| D000091642 | Urogenital Diseases |
| D009765 | Obesity |
Not provided
Not provided
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D016683 | Supine Position |
| D010166 | Palliative Care |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D011187 | Posture |
| D009142 | Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena |
| D055687 | Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena |
| D005791 | Patient Care |
Not provided
Not provided
Participants were assigned to one of three parallel groups. Each participant underwent fetal monitoring in a single maternal position. Pain and comfort levels were assessed during the monitoring procedure, and outcomes were compared between groups.
Not provided
Not provided
This is an open-label study. No participants, investigators, or outcome assessors were masked.
Not provided
|
|
| Immediately after NST |
| D050177 | Overweight |
| D044343 | Overnutrition |
| D009748 | Nutrition Disorders |
| D009750 | Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases |
| D001835 | Body Weight |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D013812 | Therapeutics |
| D006296 | Health Services |
| D005159 | Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services |