Effects of a visual and animation-based non-pharmacological pain relief approach on childbirth: A quasi-experimental...

Digital formats targeting non-pharmacological strategies during the intrapartum period remain limited.

Antenatal education can reduce labour pain and improve childbirth satisfaction, yet traditional methods have time, cost, and accessibility barriers.

To evaluate the effects of visualised and animated digital antenatal education on women's perceived control, support, and satisfaction with childbirth, as well as the willingness to adopt and the effectiveness of non-pharmacological pain relief strategies during labour.

This study used a quasi-experimental design and recruited 84 pregnant women at a medical centre in northern Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to the digital intervention (visual booklet and animation) or control (text-based materials) group. Outcomes were measured within 72 h postpartum using the Support and Control in Birth and Mackey Satisfaction scales. Data were analysed by independent t-tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

The intervention participants showed significantly higher scores in internal control, external control and perceived support, and satisfaction with self, partner, and nursing staff. Among non-pharmacological pain relief users, the Kruskal-Wallis subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in internal control, partner-related satisfaction, self-related satisfaction, overall childbirth satisfaction, and satisfaction with nursing staff.

Digital antenatal education effectively enhanced positive birth experiences and filled the gaps left by the conventional instruction, especially for those who do not use pharmacological pain relief.

This study supports the World Health Organization's priorities on digital health literacy and woman-centred care. Further research should validate the cross-cultural applicability of digital health literacy and its integration into interprofessional practice.