Investigating the Effect of Viewing Scenes of Nature and Nature Scenes Along with Nature Sounds on the Anxiety during the First Stage of Labor in Primiparous Women

Although delivery is a natural and physiological process, it creates a great deal of anxiety in mothers. This study aimed to assess the effect of viewing scenes of nature and nature scenes along with nature sounds on the anxiety during the active phase in primiparous women. In this clinical trial, 90 primiparous women in active phase of labor were selected through convenience sampling and participated in the study after obtaining written consents. They were randomly assigned to three groups of viewing scenes of nature, viewing nature scenes along with nature sounds and control. The intervention was conducted by broadcasting a 45-minute film of native scenes through television. The anxiety of the participants was evaluated by the six-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at the time of admission and every 45 minutes after the intervention.
Homogeneity of the groups in terms of all characteristics and factors which may affect anxiety was evaluated by ANOVA, ANCOVA, Fisher Exact Test and Chi –square and the three groups were similar in this regard. The anxiety score after the intervention was 14.81 ± 1.17, 14/53±1/19, and 14.47 ± 1.61 in the nature scenes group, nature scenes + nature sounds group, and control group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the three groups in the anxiety scores. Findings showed that viewing scenes of nature and nature scenes along with nature sounds had no effect on the anxiety in the first stage of labor and did not reduce it. It is suggested to study about other complementary methods to reduce mothers’ anxiety during labor.