• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2001

This study was designed to verify the effect of Doula-type-delivery nursing care on plasma $\beta$-endorphin, serum cortisol, related to delivery stress during labor, and postpartum anxiety of primipara by a quasi experiment(nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design), from December, 1999 to August, 2000. The subjects of this experiment consisted of sixty eight primipara, with single gestation, full term, uncomplicated pregnancies, thirty three for the experimental group and thirty five for the control group. Their mean age was 26.1 years for the experimental group and 25.5 years for the control group. Their mean gestation period was 39.7 weeks for the experimental group and 40.1 weeks for the control group. As treatment, Doula-type-delivery nursing care was given for the experimental group. Data assessed plasma $\beta$-endorphin, serum cortisol during labor, and anxiety during postpartum. Plasma $\beta$-endorphin, serum cortisol were measured in the latent phase before treatment(pre-test) and the transition phase after treatment(posttest). Also, anxiety was measured in the latent phase before treatment(pre-test) and 24 hours postpartum after treatment(posttest). Data was analyzed by t-test, $x^2$-test, Repeated measures ANOVA with SAS Program. The results of this study were as follows; 1. Plasma $\beta$-endorphin was significantly elevated in the experimental group who were cared for with Doula-type-delivery nursing care during labor(P=.0463). 2. No significant group effects were found, but significant time effects were found for serum cortisol. 3. The postpartum anxiety of the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group(P=.0110). In conclusion, these findings indicate that Doula-type-delivery nursing care during labor could be effective in increasing maternal plasma $\beta$-endorphin and decreasing postpartum anxiety. Doula-type-delivery nursing care during labor could be applied as an effective nursing treatment for primipara.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect on plasma beta endorphin concentration level and the influences on pain score of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) mediation to patients During a prostate needle biopsy. Methods: TENS was administered to only the experimental group. The electric current was given in high frequency (40-100 pps) and low intensity ($2-50{\mu}s$) from the waiting room stage until the end of the procedure. The average time spent was 35 minutes. Following 10 minutes of retention in the rectum, there was a biopsy. In two groups, the pain score was assessed twice when vas pain penetrated into the rectum, during the needle biopsy. The Beta endorphin concentration level was assessed through blood gathering 2 times in the Nuclear Medicine Labs before and after the test. Results: There was not much difference in pain levels from both groups when a microscope probe penetrated into the rectum and in the time when tissues were collected. However, the average overall pain level was reduced during those two procedures. The plasma beta endorphin level was increased in the TENS medicated group compared with the unmedicated group after the procedures were completed. Conclusion: The research indicates that TENS was desirable to be considered as a non-invasive method for controlling pain.