A Study to Assess the Effect of Bensons Relaxation Therapy on Pain among Post Caesarean Mothers Admitted in Selected Hospital

BACKGROUND Major health care agencies recognises pain management as one of the fundamental roles of health care provider. The incidence of caesarean section is sky rocketing globally. Unlike general post surgical patients Post caesarean mothers are expected to recover expeditiously to take care of self and perform the additional maternal role. Studies shows unrelieved post caesarean pain results in thromboembolism, atelectasis, residual pain, neonatal development impairment, and puerperal depression which in turn increases the financial burden to heath care system. Despite of voluminous studies on post caesarean pain management, studies reports still pain is undermanaged. Nurses are the health care professionals who spend most of the time with the patients who require pain relief. JCAHO recommends relaxation therapy as one of the non pharmacological pain management strategies. Administration of non pharmacological methods helps in fewer intakes of analgesics and thereby reducing the side effects of analgesics and reduces pain intensity in post caesarean mothers. In concern of the womens health scenario and imparting holistic care, administering Bensons relaxation therapy can have an effect on pain among post caesarean mothers. OBJECTIVES The study was intended to assess the effect of Bensons relaxation therapy on pain among post caesarean mothers admitted in a tertiary care centre. METHODS A quasi experimental study was conducted on 38 post caesarean mothers on their 1st and 2nd postoperative days admitted in a tertiary care centre over a period of 06 weeks from Aug 2015 to Sep 2015. Simple random sampling technique using computer generated random numbers was adopted for selecting subjects to study group. Numerical pain rating scale was used to assess the pain intensity. Administered Bensons relaxation therapy on 1st and 2nd postoperative day for 10minutes in 12 hrs duration. Pain score assessed before and after 30 minutes of the intervention by assigned staff. Data was analysed by SPSS version 20. RESULTS Majority of the women who underwent caesarean section were primigravida. The mean pre pain score of the post caesarean mothers were 6.26 and 5.74 on first and second day respectively. After all the four sessions there is statistically significant reduction in pain perception at 95 % CI. (pless than 0.005).74 % of the participants were fully satisfied with the therapy, assessed by a 5 point Likert scale. CONCLUSION: The result of the present study has showed that Bensons relaxation therapy have a positive impact on reducing pain perception among post caesarean mothers.