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

Summary

This research will be conducted to determine the effect of stress ball intervention during NST on anxiety and fetal well-being in high-risk pregnant women. Women with high-risk pregnancies randomly assigned to intervention (n=43) and control (n=43) groups at a state and a faculty hospital in Turkey will be included in the study. Pregnant women in the intervention group will be told to squeeze and release the ball once after counting to three, to inhale each time they press the ball, to exhale when they relax their grip and to focus only on the ball. Pregnant women will be instructed to continue this practice throughout the NST procedure (approximately 20 minutes). Pregnant women in the control group will not receive any intervention other than routine hospital care during the NST procedure. Data on anxiety and fetal well-being outcomes will be collected before and after NST.

Eligibility

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.

Conditions3

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