AUTHOR=Hsu Chen-Yuan , Chen Ching-Li , Tsai Li-Yun , Tsai Jung-Mei 

TITLE=Pregnancy-Related Stress Among Pregnant Women Receiving Tocolytic and Non-Tocolytic Treatments Where Both Used Complementary Medicine

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.870659

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.870659

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> This study aimed to compare the pregnancy stress among pregnant women in receiving tocolytic and non-tocolytic treatments where both used complementary medicine.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 35 pregnant women receiving tocolytic treatment and 35 receiving non-tocolytic treatment, where both used complementary medicine in a medical center in central Taiwan. A basic information questionnaire that contained demographic variables and types of complementary medicine used and the Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale were used for the analysis.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The types of complementary medicines were surveyed using the multiple-choice questionnaire. Natural products (77.5%) were most commonly used by pregnant women receiving tocolytic treatment, followed by alternative medicine (13.75%), manipulative and body-based practices (5%), and mind and body medicine (3.75%). In pregnant women who were receiving non-tocolytic treatment, natural products (59.1%) were most commonly used, followed by manipulative and body-based practices (16.4%), alternative medicine (15.4%), mind and body medicine (7.3%), and energy therapy (1.8%). According to the analysis of covariance test results, while both used complementary medicine in groups, pregnant women receiving tocolytic treatment were less stressed than those who were receiving non-tocolytic treatment (Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale score, <italic>p</italic> = 0.038), especially in dimension 2 (stress caused by infant care and changes in family relationships) (<italic>p</italic> = 0.015) and dimension 5 (stress caused by changes in physical appearance and function) (<italic>p</italic> = 0.008), which showed statistically significant differences (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Linear regression analysis results showed that the gestational age significantly associated with pregnancy stress (Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale score, <italic>p</italic> = 0.029; dimension 2, <italic>p</italic> = 0.016; and dimension 5, <italic>p</italic> = 0.001).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Among both who used complementary medicine, pregnancy stress was significantly lower in pregnant women who were receiving tocolytic treatment than in those who were receiving non-tocolytic treatment. This finding can be used as a reference for future pregnant women’s health studies.</p>