INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, healthy and natural functions of the body, which are accepted as normal processes in most societies; childbirth is one of the best life experiences for parents¹. However, negative experiences and stories about childbirth have caused birth to be remembered with pain and fear in society. This situation has led pregnant women to give birth by cesarean section². In addition, the proliferation of unnecessary interventions in natural birth has mobilized the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS), which works for the care and welfare of mothers, babies and families³.

The concept of mother-friendly birth was developed by CIMS in 1996, and it means a natural and healthier birth practice and care for mother and baby³. The purpose of care in the mother-friendly birth model is to support the development of maternal and child health with evidence-based practices⁴. For this purpose, principles that increase, protect and support mother-friendly birth services and mother-friendly practices in ten steps have been established. Since the relevant criteria are included in the publications on mother-friendly hospitals, this article will not mention mother-friendly practices in ten steps and the principle³. In addition, The Mother Baby-Family model is mentioned in the Safe and Respectful Mother Baby-Family Birth Care guide published by The International Childbirth Initiative (ICI) in cooperation with important non-governmental organizations, in line with mother-friendly practices. This model includes the health services provided to the mother and baby in the pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. According to the model, there are 12 steps to be followed in the care to be given to the mother and baby⁵:

With mother-friendly practices, the common point reached today is to ensure that the birth is managed in the least possible attempt and in the healthiest way possible. Existing evidence suggests that midwives may consider complementary therapies compatible with the woman-centered midwifery philosophy⁶. In this process, depending on the criteria of the mother-friendly hospital, the mother’s wishes are listened to, and she is directed to decide on the method of delivery as she wishes. More attention was taken for care to the privacy of the mother, and routine practices that were not based on evidence were abolished. It provided the opportunity to walk and move comfortably in the room, which was proven to relieve the birth pain². It also advocated the need for complementary therapy and supportive care for labor pain.

Supportive care has become increasingly important and supportive care practices have increased in all areas of health⁷. Also, various methods are used in the control of birth pain, such as massage, hand foot massage, phytotherapy, acupressure, aromatherapy, acupuncture, hot-cold application, moving, yoga, hypnotherapy, and changing position⁸. It is important for the healthcare professionals, who are with the mother at birth, to know these methods, their effects, limitations and to apply them effectively in controlling labor pain. When the literature was examined, it was found that there were studies showing that healthcare personnel did not have enough information about complementary therapy and supportive care^9-11. Therefore, undergraduate and in-service training of midwives who are supportive of the mother at birth has gained importance. Before the education, it has been considered that it is necessary to determine the status of the information gap.

In order for health professionals to increase the use of mother-friendly practices, it is important to know their knowledge levels and attitudes towards complementary therapy and supportive care methods. In this study, it was aimed to determine the knowledge levels and attitudes of health professionals about complementary therapy and supportive care methods to be used in relieving labor pain and in the management of the postpartum period.

METHODS

RESULTS

The average age of the healthcare professionals participating in the study was 39.9 ± 6.4 years (range: 23–60). It was determined that 88.4% of the participants were women, 90.1% were married, and 51.2% were university graduates. Considering their professional characteristics, 14.0% were physicians, 74.4% were midwives, and 11.6% were nurses. The average working time of the healthcare professionals included in the study was 17.84 ± 7.78 years (range: 1–40), and the average working time in the maternity service or delivery room was 9.99 ± 7.70 (range: 1–30) (Table 1).

Of the healthcare professionals, 77.7% had previously participated in in-service training on labor pain and postpartum care methods; of these 89.3% attended less than four in-service training sessions. It was determined that 49.6% of the healthcare professionals participating in the in-service training received information on the positive and negative effects of complementary treatment and supportive care methods on labor (Table 2).

Of the healthcare professionals, 90.9% thought that complementary therapy and supportive care methods provide pain control and facilitate labor; 30.6% of the participants stated that they used the relevant methods and 88.4% that they would like to receive training on complementary therapy and supportive care methods (Table 3).

Findings related to the knowledge and opinions of the healthcare professionals about complementary treatment and supportive care methods are given in Table 4.

Accordingly, chiropractic was found to be the unheard-of method for 6.6%, and acupuncture was the most commonly heard method with a rate of 53.7%. It was determined that the best-known method was hydrotherapy (water birth) with a rate of 5.8%, and the most used method was massage with a rate of 14.0%. It was determined that the mean total attitude score of the healthcare professionals on complementary therapy and supportive care methods was 18.57 ± 5.12 (range: 8–40).

The relationship between the descriptive and professional characteristics of the healthcare professionals and their total attitude scores was examined. There was no statistically significant difference between the independent variables of age, gender, marital status, profession, working time in the profession, working time in the maternity service and delivery room, and attitude scores (p>0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the independent variables of education (z= -2.144, p<0.05), the institution (χ²=23.417; p<0.05) and their attitude scores.

The relationship between the healthcare professionals’ knowledge and use of complementary therapy and supportive care methods and their total attitude scores were examined. A statistically significant difference was found between the independent variable of providing pain control and facilitating delivery of the related methods and attitude scores (z= -3.015; p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the attitude scores and the amount of information about the relevant subject, the willingness to receive education, and the use of methods (p>0.05).

DISCUSSION

In addition to the treatment programs accepted by health professionals, the interest and use of many applications in order to protect, treat and improve health is increasing. Particularly because women generally attach more importance to their own healthcare and treatment in case of illness, the rate of using complementary applications is high¹³. At the same time, the usefulness of complementary therapy and supportive care applications for women’s health has been proven by numerous studies^14-19. As a result of these studies, it is stated that it can increase fertility¹⁴, reduce the perception of pain at labor^15,16, prevent the formation of postpartum breast disorders¹⁷, improve mood disorders in women receiving infertility treatment¹⁸, and have mitigating effects on problems present during menopause¹⁹. The use of complementary treatment and supportive care practices, which are beneficial in all stages of women’s life, by health service providers, should be widespread and supported.

The naturally progressing labor and labor process appear to be a much feared and badly remembered experience, where the pregnant woman does not take part in her labor, and with the developing technology, excessive medical intervention takes place²⁰. Healthcare professionals have a lot of responsibility to break this taboo. It is essential to have sufficient knowledge about labor pain and postnatal care methods and develop a positive attitude about complementary and supportive care methods. Lafçı and Kaşıkçı¹¹ examined healthcare professionals’ knowledge and use of complementary and alternative therapies methods in Turkey. As a result of the study, it was stated that the rate of healthcare professionals who took any course or training on related methods was only 4.8%. In this study, the rate of getting information about labor pain and postpartum care methods was found to be 77.7%, while only half of them (49.6%) were informed about complementary therapy and supportive care methods. Since the hospitals where the study was conducted are mother-friendly hospitals, it can be said that the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals have increased positively thanks to the in-service training given about the related methods. However, it was still observed that one in two healthcare personnel did not have information about complementary therapy and supportive care methods.

Complementary therapy and supportive care methods are widely used at childbirth all over the world⁶. Such as acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, homeopathy, phytotherapy, ozone therapy, oxygen therapy, mesotherapy, massage, hypnotherapy, ayurveda, therapeutic touch, yoga, cryotherapy, meditation, osteopathy, reflexology, spa therapy, thermal therapy, hydrotherapy, music therapy, positioning, and hot-cold applications²¹. Although there are many methods, very few are known by healthcare professionals^9-11. In the study of Sen⁹ comparing the complementary alternative medicine methods used by healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals, the first three complementary treatment methods heard by healthcare professionals were hot-cold applications, acupuncture, and cupping; it has been reported that less than 20% of healthcare workers have heard of mesotherapy, apitherapy, osteopathy, neural therapy, and homeopathy practices. Çevik et al.¹⁰ examined nurses’ knowledge and views on complementary and alternative medicine in a study they planned. As a result of the study, it was reported that the first three applications that nurses have never heard of were chiropractic, shiatsu and homeopathy, and bioresonance, respectively. The first three practices of which they had sufficient knowledge were stated as dietary support, yoga, and meditation. Lafçı and Kaşıkçı¹¹ stated that acupuncture, herbal therapy, dietary support and massage are the methods that healthcare professionals know the most about. In this study, acupuncture was found to be the most commonly heard method, and the unheard method was found to be chiropractic. It was determined that the best-known method in all aspects was hydrotherapy. Considering the results of the study, it is thought that healthcare professionals have more information about the methods that are popular today. In addition, according to the results of the study examined, it was seen that the occupational groups heard and knew almost the same methods. It is seen that the methods officially accepted in Turkey in the Regulation on Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices (dated 2014 numbered 29152) slightly affect the knowledge of that method²². The reason why complementary therapy and supportive care methods are very low among healthcare professionals is thought to be due to the fact that these methods are not adequately processed in undergraduate or postgraduate education.

In order to provide holistic care in healthcare institutions, it is not enough to know complementary therapy and supportive care methods, and it is very important to use them²³. While some of them are included in basic nursing/midwifery practices, the rate of using these methods, which require some special training before implementation, remains to be seen²⁴. In the study of Bauer et al.²⁵, in which they examined the attitudes of healthcare professionals towards complementary and integrative medicine in 2020, it was seen that they had a positive attitude. Shorofi and Arbon²⁶ examined nurses’ knowledge, practices and attitudes about complementary and alternative medicine in Australia. As a result of the study, it was reported that 49.7% of the nurses used the relevant methods on their patients, and the most widely used method was massage. In the study conducted by Bahall and Legall²⁷ to examine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals about alternative medicine in Trinidad and Tobago, 82.3% of the participants used the methods, the rate of use was affected by gender, race and profession. Lafçı and Kaşıkçı¹¹ stated that a quarter of the healthcare professionals they included in the study used at least one of the complementary therapy and supportive care methods. They reported that herbal therapy and massage took the first place in use. According to the results of the study conducted by Wardle et al.²⁸ to examine the referral behaviors of general practitioners to physicians practicing complementary and alternative medicine, only 2.7% of general practitioners refer patients once a month. Samuels et al.²⁹ found that most midwives and nurses (87.3%) used these methods in the study in which nurses and midwives working in the maternity services in Israel evaluated the use of complementary and alternative medicine and their attitudes on this issue. It was reported that the most used methods in the study were massage, herbal medicine, meditation/yoga. Only 30.6% of the participants in this study stated that they used these methods. While almost all of them thought that the applications will facilitate birth and increase pain control, the rate of practicing was very low. The methods that were never used were found to be acupuncture, reflexology, phytotherapy, music, acupressure, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, and chiropractic. When the results of the study are evaluated, it is seen that the methods used are similar, while the rate of using the methods is higher in some countries. This can be explained by the deciding on the usefulness of the relevant methods and how widespread their use was before. In Turkey, with the increase of information exchange, it will be supported and their usage will be widespread. However, it is thought that education and certification programs approved by the Ministry of Health are required for this.

The majority of the participants mentioned the importance of in-service training in order to spread the use of complementary therapy and supportive care methods among healthcare professionals. In addition, it is highly recommended to provide information to prenatal pregnant women about these methods and to provide a suitable environment and materials for the application. In this way, it is thought that the problems encountered, such as rejection of the method by the pregnant woman or the inability to apply the method, due to a lack of material, will be reduced.

Attitudes towards these methods as well as the training given to healthcare professionals on complementary therapy, are also very effective in their practice. As a result of the study of Shorofi and Arbon²⁶, 22.4% of the nurses had a very positive attitude, and 36.6% had a partially positive attitude towards complementary therapy and supportive care methods. In the study of Bahall and Legall²⁷, 62.3% of doctors and 64.0% of nurses were shown to have a positive attitude that complementary therapy and supportive care methods would improve health. In the study of Samuels et al.²⁹, most of the participants gave high scores to items indicating that traditional medicine could benefit from ideas and methods, and the average attitude score was found to be high, and their attitudes were found to be positive. In this study, it was found that the attitude of healthcare professionals was positive. It was determined that the independent variables such as the education of healthcare professionals, their institution, related methods that provide pain control and the opinion of facilitated birth, positively affected the attitude scores. It is thought that this situation may arise from having sufficient knowledge to apply complementary therapy and supportive care methods and having a suitable environment to practice. Although the number of doctors participating in the study is small (n=17), the fact that the average attitude scores are higher than the nurses and midwives shows that the education received affects the attitude. In the study of Bahall and Legal²⁷, which supports the results of this study, doctors were more interested in obtaining information about complementary therapies compared to other healthcare professionals. It is thought that the difference in attitude points between the doctor and the midwife/nurse is also influenced by the autonomy of the applications. Despite the fact that the midwives-to-population ratio in Turkey is in a better position now than many OECD countries, midwife autonomy initiatives are low and not supported by existing legislation³⁰. Turkey Regulation No. 29152 dated 2014 authorizes the use of methods on behalf of physicians²². This reduces the interest of midwives and nurses on the subject. For this reason, the application of related methods and their attitude towards these methods are lower. The professional independence of midwives/nurses and their competence in applying complementary therapies and supportive care methods need to be increased in order for the mother-friendly hospital practices to reach their full goals and to increase maternal and infant health.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, it was seen that the best-known method used by healthcare professionals working in mother-friendly hospitals was hydrotherapy (water birth), and the most used method was massage. It has been concluded that healthcare professionals mostly have positive opinions about complementary therapies and supportive care methods. In order to support this positive attitude, necessary planning should be made, considering the contribution of in-service training. It is considered necessary to include complementary therapies and supportive care methods in undergraduate and postgraduate in-service training to provide the highest standards of care in order to improve maternal and postnatal health. In addition, it is important to support midwives and nurses with regulations on implementation and to increase scientific studies that will create evidence.