Clinical Research Directory

Prenatal Haptonomy-Based Support

This study is a three-arm randomized controlled trial to be conducted among pregnant women attending the antenatal outpatient clinic of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital who meet the inclusion criteria. Data will be collected between April 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027. Eligible participants will be informed about the study objectives, procedures, potential benefits and risks, and voluntary participation principles. Written informed consent will be obtained prior to enrollment. Participant confidentiality will be ensured in accordance with data protection regulations, and unique identification codes will be assigned. At baseline (T0), participants will complete the Personal Information Form, Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), and Spousal Support Scale (SSS). Following baseline assessment, participants will be randomly allocated into one of three groups: Partner-supported haptonomy group Mother-supported haptonomy group Midwife-supported haptonomy group The haptonomy-based intervention will be delivered once weekly for three consecutive weeks in a hospital-based setting. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes and will follow a standardized protocol including structured affective touch, body awareness facilitation, emotional observation, and structured session closure. All sessions will be conducted by a research assistant who completed the Prenatal Haptonomy Instructor Training (January 29-31, 2026). The principal investigator will supervise and monitor the scientific integrity of the study. Outcome assessments will be conducted at three time points: T0 (Baseline): Prior to intervention T1 (Post-session 1): 24-48 hours after the first haptonomy session T2 (Post-intervention): 24-48 hours after the third haptonomy session The Prenatal Attachment Inventory and Spousal Support Scale will be re-administered at T1 and T2. Data completeness will be checked after each assessment.

The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Intervention and Haptonomy Application on Birth Self-Efficacy, Prenatal Attachment and Anxiety Levels of Pregnant Women With Fear of ChildBirth

Fear of childbirth is a common condition encountered during pregnancy. Women with fear of childbirth have reduced birth self-efficacy, and it leads to mental health problems in the prenatal and postnatal periods, reducing mother-infant bonding. Therefore, it is of critical importance to implement effective and applicable interventions focused on health and well-being to reduce fear of childbirth. Considering the increasing cesarean section rates today, holistic intervention strategies that can positively affect the birth experiences of pregnant women and support their psychological well-being are needed. In this sense, mindfulness and haptonomy applications, which are holistic intervention strategies, will allow us to meet the psychological and emotional needs of pregnant women with fear of childbirth and improve their birth experiences. No study has been found in the literature that systematically evaluates the effects of a holistic intervention strategy for women with fear of childbirth during pregnancy. This study will enable the development of new and effective intervention strategies that can be used in prenatal and postnatal care practices and will guide clinical practices to make pregnant women's birth experiences more positive. In this study, the effects of mindfulness-based intervention and haptonomy application on childbirth self-efficacy, prenatal attachment and anxiety levels in pregnant women experiencing fear of childbirth will be evaluated. This research will be conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study. The data of the research will consist of 225 women (75 in the mindfulness group, 75 in the haptonomy group, and 75 in the control group) who applied to the Erzurum City Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between 01.06.2024 and 01.07.2025. The data will be collected face to face using the "Personal Information Form", "Wijma Childbirth Expectation/Experience Scale Version A", "Prenatal Attachment Inventory", and "State Anxiety Scale".