A Study on Nursing Needs during Labor Pain

초산부의 간호요구에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study was to explore the structure of nursing needs during labor pain as perceived by women who have given birth. The phenomenological perspective of qualitative research theory guided the approach to the study. The sample consisted of 20 women who had undergone normal labor and had delivered a healthy baby at term. Collection of data was by means of in-depth interviews conducted 1-2 days after delivery in the admission room from March to may 1998. On average, the interviews lasted for about 30 minutes. Interviews were taken with the consent of the subjects. Data were analyzed by means of Giorgi's method and categorized according to the similarities of their contents. The investigator read the data repeatedly to identify themes and categories. Four categories were : 1) a sense of security 2) self esteem 3) willingness to learn 4) a sense of comfort. Under these categories there were twelve themes. I. A sense of security : (a) presence (b) conversation (c) touching II. Self esteem : (a) praise (b) encouragement (c) treating the women with respect (d) caregiver with good character III. Willingness to learn : (a) teaching (b) information IV. A sense of comfort : (a) self controlled pain relief (b) artificially controlled pain relief (c) skillfulness of caregiver The findings should sensitize nurses to the various needs of women in labor who are under their care. Further research should focus on developing instruments to assess the nursing needs of parturients. Researchers also need to identify ways to assess women's satisfaction with nursing needs.