Browsing by Subject "Episiotomy"
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    A clinical study of the rate of episiotomy and perineal outcomes after delivery
    (Assumption University Press, 2016) Phat Prapawichar
    Episiotomy is widely performed as a 'routine' procedure during childbirth. The potential benefits for the use of the episiotomy include the prevention of severe perineal lacerations and pelvic floor relaxation. Evidently, episiotomy procedure may increase the likelihood of severe perineal pain, healing outcomes, and third or fourth degree tears. In spite of all these factors this procedure still remains a clinical practice and as part of normal delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of episiotomy and perineal outcomes after normal delivery. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered survey and chart review in two government hospitals located in Bangkok, Thailand. Anonymous patient's data of 400 women was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed 80% of women received episiotomy. 2.2% of women who had episiotomy experienced a severe perineal laceration, compared to those who delivered without episiotomy. Perineal pain appears to be highest (90.94%) in women who had episiotomy than those who had spontaneous delivery without episiotomy (70%). Therefore, restrictive use of this procedure should be recommended to reduce complications and increase comfort for women after delivery.
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    Women’s Involvement in Decision Making: Episiotomy Procedure
    ( 2017) Phat Prapawichar ; Patcharee Juntaruksa
    Background: Involving patient in decision making for their care can enhance satisfaction and promote health outcomes in particular in the nursing fields. As The World Health Organization Principles of Perinatal Care has recommended that care should involve women in decision making. This principle strongly endorses for improving effective perinatal care. Decision making regard to treatment options is a concept that has increased widespread appeals to healthcare providers and users in recent year. Evidently, patient involvement in decision making has not always been implemented in clinical practice in particular during intrapartum period. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of women in decision making on episiotomy procedure during labor. Methods: A descriptive quantitative approach was conducted using selfadministered survey questionnaires in two government hospitals, Bangkok, Thailand. Participating hospitals were identified by convenience and remained anonymous. The Participant, eligible women included those who have reached 37 to 42 weeks of gestation, experienced vaginal birth, have a live baby, and admitted in the postpartum units. An appropriate sample size was assigned based on a 95 percent confidence level. A sample size was drawn from two hospitals based on a binomial probability distribution. There were 400 postpartum women participated in this study. Anonymous patient’s data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Results: The results revealed that 80% of all women experienced episiotomy. The finding demonstrated that decision making on having this procedure made by health care providers and relatives 73.8%, 3.2%, respectively. 23% of them had a chance to make a decision on having episiotomy. There were 23.8% of women received information about risks and benefits of episiotomy procedure and 76.2% did not get information. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that women have less opportunity to make a decision on having episiotomy during labor and received less information about this procedure. Therefore, health care providers should be clearly discussed about risks and benefits of episiotomy before performing the procedure. The factors influencing patient involvement in decision making should be investigated to promote good experiences of women during delivery and increase satisfaction toward their care.