APBA Kısa Özet

This prospective randomized trial evaluated the effects of using a stress ball during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Maternal anxiety levels were significantly lower in the stress ball group compared to the control group. Although there was no significant difference in postoperative pain, lactation success and perceived milk adequacy were higher, and supplemental feeding needs were reduced in the stress ball group, suggesting benefits for early breastfeeding outcomes.

# Çalışma neyi araştırdı?

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of utilizing a stress ball during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia as a simple, non-pharmacological intervention on maternal anxiety, hemodynamic parameters, and lactation outcomes. The objective was to provide information for clinical practice regarding this non-pharmacological intervention.

# Yöntem

Cases were randomly separated into two groups. Cases in the intervention group were given stress balls and instructed to squeeze them continuously throughout the procedure, from 15 minutes before spinal anesthesia in the preoperative room until 15 minutes after newborn delivery. Demographic and surgical data, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, maternal anxiety and pain levels, lactation adequacy, milk adequacy, and supplemental feeding needs were recorded and analyzed. The study employed a randomized design; however, details regarding blinding, allocation concealment, and preregistration were not specified in the abstract.

# Temel bulgular

  • Anxiety: Maternal anxiety levels were lower in the stress ball group compared to the control group.
  • Postoperative Pain: Although there was no significant difference in postoperative pain levels, the data suggests a trend toward reduced pain perception.
  • Lactation: Lactation success and perceived milk adequacy were higher in the stress ball group, and supplemental feeding needs were reduced.
  • Hemodynamics: Intraoperative blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation did not differ significantly between groups.

# Bulgular ne anlama geliyor?

The reduction in maternal anxiety may facilitate mother-infant bonding and improve breastfeeding motivation. The lack of significant effect on postoperative pain suggests that stress ball use does not possess direct analgesic properties. The improvement in early lactation outcomes, despite the absence of pain reduction, hypothesizes that reduced anxiety positively influences milk let-down and infant feeding success.

# Klinik önem

These findings suggest that the stress ball, as a low-cost, non-pharmacological tool, can be integrated into cesarean delivery protocols to potentially reduce maternal anxiety and improve early breastfeeding success. However, since it does not significantly affect postoperative pain, it should not be considered a standalone analgesic alternative. Clinically, incorporating such low-risk interventions may enhance patient satisfaction, though recommendations should be supported by more robust, high-certainty evidence.

APBA Yorum: This study is limited to a single center with an unreported sample size, limiting the generalizability of the results. The absence of detailed information on allocation concealment, blinding, and statistical power weakens the certainty of the findings. Further large-scale, multicenter, and methodologically transparent trials are required before the routine implementation of stress ball use in obstetric care can be recommended.

# Sınırlılıklar

  • Örneklem büyüklüğü: The sample size was not reported in the provided abstract; this limits the assessment of statistical power.
  • Risk of bias: The risk of bias assessment is unclear due to insufficient methodological detail in the abstract regarding randomization and allocation concealment.
  • İmpresizyon: The precision of effects is imprecise; confidence intervals or p-values were not provided in the abstract, making it difficult to ascertain the magnitude of the observed effects.
  • Tek merkez: The study was conducted at a single center, and the generalizability of the findings to other clinical settings remains uncertain.
  • Çıkar çatışması: The funding source and potential conflicts of interest were not disclosed in the abstract.
  • Genelleme: Participant demographics, such as age, parity, and gestational age, were not detailed, limiting the applicability of the findings to a broader obstetric population.