Table 1.
Baseline participant characteristics and obstetric outcomes
| Characteristic | Group | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TENS 1 (n = 21) | TENS 2 (n = 21) | Placebo (n = 21) | ||
| Age (years) | 28.3 ± 5.3 | 28.9 ± 6.0 | 27.1 ± 5.3 | 0.545* |
| Weight (kg) | 72.9 ± 10.9 | 75.9 ± 12.6 | 71.5 ± 7.7 | 0.399* |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26.7 ± 2.9 | 28.7 ± 5.4 | 26.8 ± 1.6 | 0.745* |
| Presentation | 0.714** | |||
| Cephalic-vertex | 12 (19) | 11 (17.5) | 8 (12.7) | |
| Cephalic-sinciput | 5 (7.9) | 3 (4.8) | 5 (7.9) | |
| Cephalic-brow | 1 (1.6) | 3 (4.8) | 4 (6.3) | |
| Cephalic-face | 0 | 0 | 1 (1.6) | |
| Breech | 3 (4.8) | 4 (6.3) | 3 (4.8) | |
| Gestational age (weeks) | 39.5 ± 1.5 | 39.6 ± 1.5 | 39.3 ± 1.3 | 0.508* |
| Childbirth preparation course | 0.446** | |||
| Yes | 13 (20.6) | 11 (17.5) | 15 (23.8) | |
| No | 8 (12.7) | 10 (15.9) | 6 (9.5) | |
| Length of first stage (min) | 443 (216) | 451 (238) | 527 (225) | 0.532* |
| Length of second stage (min) | 42 (23.5) | 40 (18.3) | 38 (21.4) | 0.722* |
| Position adopted during labour | 0.319** | |||
| Sitting | 3 (4.8) | 3 (4.8) | 1 (1.6) | |
| Lateral decubitus | 1 (1.6) | 2 (3.2) | 0 | |
| Dorsal decubitus | 7 (11.1) | 10 (15.9) | 4 (6.3) | |
| Dorsal decubitus and sitting | 6 (9.5) | 4 (6.3) | 9 (14.3) | |
| Lateral decubitus and sitting | 2 (3.2) | 0 | 3 (4.8) | |
| Lateral and dorsal decubitus | 2 (3.2) | 2 (3.2) | 4 (6.3) | |
| Pushing methods for the second stage of labour | 0.774** | |||
| Valsalva pushing | 12 (19) | 10 (15.9) | 12 (19) | |
| Spontaneous pushing | 9 (14.3) | 11 (17.5) | 9 (14.3) | |
| Perineal laceration | 0.469** | |||
| None | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.6) | 0 | |
| Grade I | 15 (23.8) | 19 (30.2) | 19 (30.2) | |
| Grade II | 4 (6.3) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (3.2) | |
| Grade III | 1 (1.6) | 0 | 0 | |
| Accompanying person during the active phase of labour | 21 (33.3) | 21 (33.3) | 21 (33.3) | 1** |
Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or n (%)
TENS transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, BMI body mass index
*p values obtained from Kruskal-Wallis test and one-way analysis of variance tests
**p values obtained from χ2 test