Impact of Humanistic and Psychological Nursing on Postpartum Women: A Comparative Study

Postpartum care primarily focuses on the mother's physical recuperation, encompassing the prevention and treatment of postpartum ailments. However, healthcare practitioners have relatively neglected the psychological needs of mothers. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a psychological health concern that necessitates attention and timely intervention.

The study intended to explore the effects of postpartum humanistic care and psychological nursing on maternal quality of life (QoL) and the levels of anxiety and depression of postpartum women, ultimately to provide effective postpartum-care strategies for medical institutions, enhance maternal mental health, and augment overall satisfaction and QoL.

The research team conducted a randomized controlled trial.

The study took place at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University in the Binhu District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China.

Participants were 80 postpartum women at the hospital from June 2023 to March 2024.

Using a random number table method, the research team randomly divided participants into two groups, with 40 participants in each group: (1) the control group, who received routine nursing intervention after delivery, and (2) the intervention group, who received humanistic care and psychological nursing.

At baseline and postintervention, the research team measured participants' (1) QoL, using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scale, and (2) anxiety and depression levels, using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Postintervention, the team measured participants' levels of satisfaction with nursing care .

At baseline, no significant difference existed between the groups: (1) in the Q0L (P > .05) or (2) in the SAS or SDS scores (P > .05). Postintervention, compared to the control group, the intervention group's: (1) QoL was significantly higher (P < .001), (2) SAS (P < .001) and SDS (P < .001) scores were significantly lower, and (3) nursing satisfaction level was 97.5%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group at 75.0% (P = .003).

Adding humanistic care and psychological nursing in postpartum care can significantly improve the QoL of postpartum women, reduce PPD, and improve their nursing satisfaction.