The Effect of Wireless Electronic Fetal Monitoring on Labor Pain and Birth Experiences

November 14, 2025 updated by: Melek Şen Aytekin, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

The Effect of Continuous Wireless Fetal Monitoring During the Intrapartum Period on Labor Pain and Birth Experience: A Randomized Controlled Single-Blind Study

This study is using Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) to assess fetal health in pregnant women in labor. This will be compared with continuous wired EFM and continuous wireless EFM. The effects of wireless and continuous wireless EFM on labor pain levels and labor experiences will be measured.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In this study, Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) is being applied to pregnant women in labor to assess fetal health. This procedure is typically performed in hospitals using a continuous wired EFM. During this period, women are forced to lie down constantly and cannot use active methods to cope with pain. Therefore, using a wireless EFM may be an approach that allows for continuous assessment while also supporting women's activity. Therefore, a comparison will be made between continuous wired EFM and continuous wireless EFM. During labor, pain levels will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale when cervical dilation is between 8 and 10 cm. After the first hour postpartum, the labor experience of the postpartum woman will be collected using the Birth Experiences Scale.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
112

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Tokat Province
      • Tokat Province, Tokat Province, Turkey (Türkiye), 60000
        • Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
        • Contact:
          • melek aytekin, Research Assistant Doctor
          • Phone Number: 05071616044
          • Email: mlksn90@gmail.com
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Melek Şen Aytekin, Research Assistant
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Demet Çakır, Assistant Professor
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ayşenur Kahraman, Research Assistant
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Emine Aksüt Akçay, Assistant Professor

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The study included healthy primiparous or multiparous pregnant women who agreed to participate in the study, were between the ages of 18 and 35, had a gestational age greater than 37+0, had cervical dilation greater than 4 cm, had a single, live fetus, were not using uterotonic agents, spoke Turkish, had no comprehension, perception, or communication problems, and were healthy.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant women who were diagnosed with a risky pregnancy, who were illiterate, who had a contagious disease, or who had a risky disease were not included in the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Continuous Wired EFM Group
In routine practice, fetal health assessments for pregnant women presenting for labor are conducted using a continuous wired EFM. Pregnant women in this group will not receive any interventions other than routine procedures. Because pregnant women are constantly connected to the EFM, the EFM will be removed and reconnected when necessary, such as when going to the toilet.
Experimental: Continuous Wireless EFM Group
Pregnant women in this group will be continuously assessed with wireless EFM. Because it's a wireless application, pregnant women will have the freedom to move freely throughout labor. They will be able to perform their own activities, such as toileting, and other necessary activities. Pregnant women will not be subjected to any other procedures other than continuous wireless EFM.
Other: Continuous Wireless EFM Group
Pregnant women in this group will be continuously assessed with wireless EFM. Because it's a wireless application, pregnant women will have the freedom to move freely throughout labor. They will be able to perform their own activities, such as toileting, and other necessary activities. Pregnant women will not be subjected to any other procedures other than continuous wireless EFM.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Birth Experience Questionnaire
Time Frame: 1 hour after the end of labor
The Birth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), developed by Dencker and colleagues in 2010, was adapted into Turkish by Mamuk and colleagues in 2019. Developed to measure women's birth experiences across various dimensions, the scale has four subscales and 22 items. It consists of the following subscales: Birth Process (8 items), Professional Assistance/Support (5 items), Perceived Safety/Memories (6 items), and Participation in Decisions (3 items).
1 hour after the end of labor
The Visual Acuity Scale
Time Frame: Determining the pain level of pregnant women will be completed within 5 minutes when cervical dilation is 8-10 cm.
This is a horizontal or vertical line, usually 10 cm long, used to assess pain intensity. It begins with "No Pain" and ends with "Unbearable Pain." The patient marks the appropriate location on this line based on the pain they experience. The VAS is used to convert some values that cannot be measured numerically into numerical values. The two extremes of the parameter to be evaluated are written at either end of a 100 mm line, and the patient is asked to indicate where their own condition aligns with this line by drawing a line, placing a dot, or pointing. For example, for pain, "No pain at all" is written at one end, and "Extreme pain at the other end," and the patient marks their current condition on this line. According to this scale, the patient is asked to rate whether they have pain or not, and if so, to rate it on a scale of 0-10. According to this score, pain intensity is considered mild pain at <3, moderate pain at 3-6, and severe pain at >6. The distance from the point of
Determining the pain level of pregnant women will be completed within 5 minutes when cervical dilation is 8-10 cm.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Personal Information Form
Time Frame: The data will be collected 5 minutes after the pregnant woman is included in the study.
This form, which questions the introductory characteristics of pregnant women, consists of a total of 23 questions, 6 of which are to determine the socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics of pregnant women, 8 questions to learn their obstetric information and 9 questions about birth experience.
The data will be collected 5 minutes after the pregnant woman is included in the study.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Melek Şen Aytekin, Research Assistant, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
  • Study Chair: Demet Çakır, Assistant Professor, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
  • Study Chair: Ayşenur Kahraman, Research Assistant, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
  • Study Chair: Emine Aksüt Akçay, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Unıversity

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 2, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 14, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 18, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 14, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • GaziosmanpasaU-EBE-MŞA-04

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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