Effects of Boiled Dill Seed on Anxiety During Labor: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of boiled dill seed (Anethum graveolens) on anxiety during childbirth compared with oxytocin. METHODS: This study was a randomized clinical trial with 100 pregnant women who were assigned to the oxytocin (50 cases) and the boiled dill seed (50 cases) group by a table of random number. In the boiled dill seed group, 10 g of dill seed was boiled in 100 mL for 10 min and was given to women after filtration once orally at the beginning of active phase. In the oxytocin group, 10 IU of oxytocin in 1000 mL of Ringer solution was prescribed according to the clinical routine. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in both groups before (at the beginning of the active phase) and after (6 h after the delivery) was completed. Meanwhile, pain intensity and duration of labor, dilatation and effacement scores, Apgar score of newborns, and FHR were measured and evaluated. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were shown in obvious anxiety scores between the two groups at baseline (P0.05). After the delivery, in the boiled dill seed group, the number of women with severe [0 vs. 8.0% (4/50)] and almost severe [0 vs. 14.0% (7/50)] trait and almost severe [0 vs. 14.0% (7/50)] state anxiety was lower than those in the control group (P=0.050, P=0.041, respectively). Moreover, labor was shorter in the 1st (P 0.01), 2nd (P=0.78) and 3rd (P=0.10) stages in the boiled dill seed group compared to the control group CONCLUSIONS: Dill seed could be used as an effective treatment to reduce anxiety during labor. Dill seed can be effective in reducing the length of labor. Due to lack of maternal and fetal complications, the boiled dill seed could also be used to reduce cesarean section rates in women who are fearful and anxious of delivery. (RCT Code: IRCT201607177065N2).

Psychometrics properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life tool: A cross- sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical measurement of quality of life (QoL) for assessing reproductive problems should be considered as a standard investigation at the initial and continuing medical consultations with infertile people. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was comprehensive testing the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life (FertiQoL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on300 women referred to infertility clinic. After linguistic validation, a semi-structured interview was conducted to assess face validity. Consequently exploratory factor analysis was performed to indicate the scale constructs. Discriminate validity was assessed using the known groups comparison. Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between similar content on the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF12), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and FertiQol. In addition, reliability analysis was carried out with internal consistency. RESULTS: The reliability of the Iranian version of the FertiQoL was satisfactory in all dimensions (0.77-0.83). Six factors (emotional, mind/body, relational, social, environmental, and tolerability) were extracted from the results of exploratory factor analysis. Discrimination validity showed that FertiQoL can differentiate between female patients with differing duration of infertility and number of children. Moreover, the results of convergent validity showed a favorable correlation between the related dimensions of SF12 (0.43-0.68), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (0.47-0.52) and FertiQoL. CONCLUSION: The Iranian version of FertiQoL is valid and reliable for assessing infertility problems and the effects of treatment on QoL of infertile patients referred for diagnosis and treatment at infertility clinic.

A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of applying a simple protocol of boiled Anethum Graveolens seeds on pain intensity and duration of labor stages.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the effects of boiled Anethum Graveolens seeds on pain intensity and duration of labor stages. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 153 eligible participants who had regular uterine contractions. Participants were allocated to either intervention or control group receiving boiled Anethum Graveolens seeds or routine care, respectively. Preparation of Anethum Graveolens boiled solution was as follows: 10g (two tablespoons) of seed in 100cc water boiled for 10min. After filtration, this solution used by intervention group only once after starting active phase (3-4cm of cervix dilatation). Participants were followed up to the delivery time. Data were analyzed using T, and Chi square tests. RESULTS: Findings showed that the length of the all stages of labor were significantly lower in intervention compared to control group in except for second stage in primiparous. The second stage of labor in primiparous participants in intervention group was shorter than control group, although the difference is not significant. Moreover, intervention group had a significantly better dilatation and effacement scores after 1, 2, 3 and 4h following the intervention compared to control group. CONCLUSION: Results supported the boiled Anethum Graveolens seeds as an effective way to progress of the labor.