The Effect of Childbirth Education Given by the Nurse on the Level of Anxiety Father’s: A Randomize Control Trial

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to identify the effect of the training given to fathers - who did not attend any prenatal preparatory classes throughout their partner’s pregnancy period- after admission to the hospital for birth on the their anxiety level. Material and Methods: The study was designed and conducted as a cross-sectional, randomized controlled experimental one. The study included 105 fathers, 56 fathers in the experimental group and 49 fathers in the control group. The data were collected socio-demographic information form; interview form in relation to birth; Spielberger State / Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: Comparison of the fathers in the experimental (39.32±8.94) and control group (43.69±8.35) in terms of the trait anxiety scores showed that trait anxiety scores of the fathers in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. As to the comparison of the state anxiety mean scores of the fathers in the experimental and control group, while no statistically significant differences were detected between the groups before the training, state anxiety scores of the fathers in the experimental group (35.21±8.42) were found to be significantly lower than those of the control group fathers (42.85±11.03) who were not provided with any training. Conclusion: In comparison to the fathers who did not receive any information, the state anxiety levels were found to be lower in the fathers who were systematically informed about the hospital, birth process, newborn and postnatal period while waiting for the birth outside the delivery room.