Effectiveness of Cold Gel Pad Therapy versus Infra Red Light Therapy on Episiotomy Pain and Wound Healing Process among Postnatal Mothers at Selected Hospitals, Madurai

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Episiotomy is a common surgical procedure performed during second stage of labour. Pain following episiotomy appears to be universal. Other complications arising from episiotomy include greater blood loss in conjunction with delivery and risk of improper wound healing. Emerging research study suggests the potential benefits of Cold gel pad therapy on episiotomy pain and wound healing process. OBJECTIVES 1. To assess the level of episiotomy pain and wound healing process among postnatal mothers before the application of Cold gel pad therapy in experimental group I and Infra red light therapy in experimental group II.2. To evaluate the effectiveness of Cold gel pad therapy in experimental group I and Infra red light therapy in experimental group II on episiotomy pain and wound healing process among postnatal mothers.3. To compare the effectiveness of Cold gel pad therapy versus Infra red light therapy on episiotomy pain and wound healing process among postnatal mothers in experimental group I and experimental group II.4. To find out the association between the pretest scores of episiotomy pain and wound healing process with selected demographic variables and obstetrical variables among postnatal mothers in experimental group I and experimental group II. HYPOTHESES 1. There will be a significant difference in the level of episiotomy pain and wound healing process before and after the application of Cold gel pad therapy in experimental group I and Infra red light therapy in experimental group II.2. There will be a significant difference in the level of episiotomy pain and wound healing process between the application of Cold gel pad therapy in experimental group I and Infra red light therapy in experimental group II.3. There will be a significant association between the pre test scores of episiotomy pain and wound healing process with selected demographic variables and obstetrical variables in experimental group I and experimental group II. METHODOLOGY An evaluatory and comparative research approach, Quasi Experimental and Non equivalent two group pre test and post test design was used. Using non-probability purposive sampling technique 30 post natal mothers from selected hospitals, Madurai were selected of which 15 mothers were assigned in experimental group I and another 15 mothers were in experimental group II. Application of Cold gel pad therapy was done for experimental group I and Infra red light therapy was done for experimental group II for three days and four observations were made using numerical pain rating scale and REEDA scale on episiotomy pain and wound healing process. RESULTS The overall mean post-test numerical pain rating scale score in the experimental group I was 5.8 with a SD of 1.47, and in the experimental group II was 6.13 with a SD of 0.10. The calculated t value was 6.56 which was highly significant at 0.05 level when compared to table value 2.05. The overall mean post-test REEDA scale score in the experimental group I was 7 with a SD of 0.92, and in the experimental group II was 7.6 with a SD of 1.70. The calculated t value was 2.40 which was significant at 0.05 level when compared to table value 2.05. The result shows that there is a significant improvement in the level of pain and wound healing process after the application of Cold gel uppaAd therapy when compared to Infra red light therapy. CONCLUSION The study concluded that the application of Cold gel pad therapy was found to be an effective measure in reducing episiotomy pain and improving the wound healing process and was also cost effective.