Comparison Of The Effects Of Swedish Massage With Natural Oils (Comparison)

Comparison Of The Effects Of Swedish Massage With Natural Oils During The 1st And 2nd Stages Of Labor On Labor Pain, Fear And Anxiety Levels: A Randomized Controlled Study

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Swedish massage combined with lavender and chamomile oils on childbirth outcomes during the first and second stages of labor.

Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with 90 pregnant women. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: Intervention A (n=30; carrier oil + chamomile oil + Swedish massage), Intervention B (n=30; carrier oil + lavender oil + Swedish massage), and Control (n=30; carrier oil + Swedish massage). Data were collected using the Individual Identification Form, Vital Signs (blood pressure and pulse), Partograph, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I and STAI-II), and the Childbirth Fear Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 23.0.

The study was designed to compare the effects of Swedish massage combined with chamomile oil, lavender oil, or carrier oil on labor pain, anxiety, childbirth fear, physiological parameters, and selected birth outcomes during the first and second stages of labor.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anxiety; Pain Management; Fear; Aromatherapy; Midwifery; Childbirth
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Aromatherapy and Massage Care for labor pain management

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Swedish massage combined with chamomile oil or lavender oil during the first and second stages of labor. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups: chamomile oil with Swedish massage, lavender oil with Swedish massage, and carrier oil with Swedish massage. Outcome measures included labor pain, anxiety, childbirth fear, maternal vital signs, duration of labor stages, and selected maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. Data were collected at predefined stages of labor using validated assessment tools.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 90
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Center
    • Antalya, Center, Turkey (Türkiye), 06000
      • Antalya City Hospital
    • Antalya, Center, Turkey (Türkiye), 43000
      • Antalya City Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• • Voluntarily participate in the study and provide written consent.

  • Ability to communicate and follow instructions.
  • Possess a general health/obstetric status sufficient to safely complete the research process.
  • No known allergies to aromatherapy inhalation or skin reactions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a medical, psychiatric, or obstetric condition that could negatively affect the safety/validity of participation.

  • Being unsuitable for intervention due to conditions requiring acute/chronic treatment.
  • Using painkillers/sedatives, etc., that could affect the study results
  • Showing hypersensitivity to herbal/essential oils or carrier ingredients.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention A,; Intervention A (n=30; carrier oil + chamomile oil + Swedish massage), Stage I: From cervical dilation of 4 cm to 8 cm, four 10-minute sessions of labor massage were performed using superficial tapping techniques (for the head, shoulders, hands, and feet). Stage II: From 8 cm dilation to delivery, petrissage or strong tapping massage (B-shaped and heart-shaped), petrissage to the head and shoulders, spiral vibration to both sides of the vertebral column, and sacrum compression were applied four times for 20 minutes each. In each stage, the expectant mother was asked to indicate the area where she felt pain using the "Pain Area Drawings" chart. The type and intensity of the massage were determined based on the severity of the pain and the mother's emotional needs.	Other: Aromatherapy and Massage Care for labor pain management; Although lavender and chamomile oils have been used in midwifery practices in previous studies, no study has been found comparing the effects of Swedish massage; Other Names: Aromatherapy Care Chamomile oil and swedish massage; Swedish massage and basic oil; Aromatherapy Care Lavender oil and swedish massage
Experimental: Intervention B,; Intervention B (n=30; carrier oil + lavender oil + Swedish massage) Stage I: From cervical dilation of 4 cm to 8 cm, four 10-minute sessions of labor massage were performed using superficial tapping techniques (for the head, shoulders, hands, and feet) Stage II: From 8 cm dilation to delivery, petrissage or strong tapping massage (B-shaped and heart-shaped), petrissage to the head and shoulders, spiral vibration to both sides of the vertebral column, and sacrum compression were applied four times for 20 minutes each. In each stage, the expectant mother was asked to indicate the area where she felt pain using the "Pain Area Drawings" chart. The type and intensity of the massage were determined based on the severity of the pain and the mother's emotional needs.	Other: Aromatherapy and Massage Care for labor pain management; Although lavender and chamomile oils have been used in midwifery practices in previous studies, no study has been found comparing the effects of Swedish massage; Other Names: Aromatherapy Care Chamomile oil and swedish massage; Swedish massage and basic oil; Aromatherapy Care Lavender oil and swedish massage
Experimental: Intervention C; Control (n=30; carrier oil + Swedish massage).Stage I: From cervical dilation of 4 cm to 8 cm, four 10-minute sessions of labor massage were performed using superficial tapping techniques (for the head, shoulders, hands, and feet). Stage II: From 8 cm dilation to delivery, petrissage or strong tapping massage (B-shaped and heart-shaped), petrissage to the head and shoulders, spiral vibration to both sides of the vertebral column, and sacrum compression were applied four times for 20 minutes each. In each stage, the expectant mother was asked to indicate the area where she felt pain using the "Pain Area Drawings" chart. The type and intensity of the massage were determined based on the severity of the pain and the mother's emotional needs.	Other: Aromatherapy and Massage Care for labor pain management; Although lavender and chamomile oils have been used in midwifery practices in previous studies, no study has been found comparing the effects of Swedish massage; Other Names: Aromatherapy Care Chamomile oil and swedish massage; Swedish massage and basic oil; Aromatherapy Care Lavender oil and swedish massage

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Labor pain intensity Visual Analog Scale	Measurement tool: Visual Analog Scale Measurement time: 4 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm cervical dilation and immediately after delivery. The scale is a 10 cm long scale used to assess pain intensity. Scores range from 0-100; higher scores indicate more severe pain.	During Childbirth ( to 24 hours)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
State anxiety level, state and trait anxiety scale I	The scale consists of two subscales that measure state and trait anxiety. Each subscale comprises 20 items, with scores ranging from 20 to 80. Higher scores indicate a higher level of anxiety. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the Turkish form are between 0.83 and 0.87 for State anxiety level I and between 0.86 and 0.92 for Trait anxiety level.	Duration of first and second stage of labor servical opening 4-6 cm (up to 6 hours)
Trait anxiety level, state and trait anxiety scale II	State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Form II, a 20-item self-report instrument. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety. The instrument has demonstrated good reliability, with reported Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.83 to 0.87 in Turkish validation studies.	Duration of first and second stage of labor servical opening 6-10 cm (up to 4 hours)
Delivery Fear Scale	Fear of childbirth will be assessed using the Delivery Fear Scale, a 10-item self-report instrument developed to measure fear experienced during labor. Each item is scored from 1 to 10, resulting in a total score ranging from 10 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater fear of childbirth. The Turkish version of the scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.90.	During the first and second stages of labor. (up to 24 hours)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kutahya Health Sciences University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Hulya t Tosun, Phd. FM., Kutahya Health Science University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Durmaz Fatma Cigdem Sirin, Tosun Hülya, Özlü Aysun COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF SWEDISH MASSAGE WITH NATURAL OILS DURING THE 1ST AND 2ND STAGES OF LABOR ON LABOR PAIN, FEAR AND ANXIETY LEVELS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY . : . .

Helpful Links

• https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
• Article

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 24, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 14, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 19, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 4, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain; aromatherapy; labor; lavender oil; Swedish massage; childbirth fear; Chamomile oil
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Perceptual Disorders; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Anxiety Disorders; Agnosia; Therapeutics; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Inorganic Chemicals; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Sensory Art Therapies; Phytotherapy; Aromatherapy; Alkalies
• Other Study ID Numbers: E-95961207-202.3.02-402

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

IPD Plan Description

Study Protocol

Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)

Informed Consent Form (ICF)

• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Can be shared between 27/08/2026 and 27/01/2030
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Researchers working at universities. Master's and doctoral students,
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Study Data/Documents

1. Study Protocol
   Information identifier: Fatma Cigdem Sirin Durmaz
   Information comments: If the data would like, the researchers will send to researchers

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No