Determining the Effect of the ThetaHealing Meditation Method Given During the Antenatal Period on Labor Pain and Fear in Primiparous Women

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the efficacy of an antenatal ThetaHealing meditation program in alleviating labor pain and fear of childbirth among primiparous women. The intervention protocol for the study group is structured across three distinct phases.Phase I: Antenatal Training and Baseline AssessmentParticipant recruitment, informed voluntary consent, and baseline data collection-comprising the Antenatal Information Form and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A (W-DEQ A)-will be conducted by the primary researcher. Intervention participants will undergo a structured four-week antenatal educational program at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Nicosia Emergency Hospital. The curriculum totals 8 hours of instruction (administered in weekly 2-hour sessions) utilizing multimodal instructional tools, including video modules, visual aids, interactive discussions, and supervised practical demonstrations. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of completion and a study-specific identification wristband to ensure protocol adherence upon hospital admission.Phase II: Intrapartum Intervention, EEG Monitoring, and Data CollectionParticipants will notify the researcher at the onset of active labor and will be managed in accordance with the hospital's standard vaginal delivery protocols. In addition to continuous one-on-one midwifery support, the researcher will guide intervention participants through taught breathing, visualization, and ThetaHealing meditation techniques.To assess neurophysiological shifts and analgesic efficacy across labor progression, parameters will be evaluated at three predetermined cervical dilation stages ($3\text{--}4\text{ cm}$, $5\text{--}6\text{ cm}$, and $7\text{--}8\text{ cm}$):Intervention Group: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores will be recorded immediately prior to and following a 20-minute ThetaHealing meditation session. Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings will be acquired during the 20-minute intervention to capture real-time brainwave frequency shifts.Control Group: Participants will receive standard intrapartum care without meditation instruction. EEG recordings and VAS pain assessments will be obtained at matching cervical dilation intervals ($3\text{--}4\text{ cm}$, $5\text{--}6\text{ cm}$, and $7\text{--}8\text{ cm}$) to document baseline neurophysiological frequency states during labor without intervention.Phase III: Postpartum EvaluationApproximately two hours postpartum, the primary researcher will collect post-intervention outcomes via face-to-face interviews and clinical observations using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version B (W-DEQ B) and the Postpartum Evaluation Form across both groups.Overview of Study DesignPhaseTimelineIntervention GroupControl GroupKey Outcome MeasuresPhase IAntenatal (4-Week Program)8-hour structured ThetaHealing course + Baseline assessmentBaseline assessment only (No training)W-DEQ Version A, Antenatal Information FormPhase IIIntrapartum ($3\text{--}4\text{ cm}$, $5\text{--}6\text{ cm}$, $7\text{--}8\text{ cm}$ Dilation)Guided 20-min meditation + Continuous midwifery careStandard intrapartum delivery room carePre/Post VAS Pain Scores, Real-time EEG Frequency TrackingPhase IIIPostpartum (~2 Hours Post-Delivery)Postpartum interview \& clinical observationPostpartum interview \& clinical observationW-DEQ Version B, Postpartum Evaluation FormKey Improvements Made:Structure \& Readability: Consolidated redundant descriptions into a clear three-phase chronological narrative supported by a comparison table.Clinical Precision: Updated informal phrasing (e.g., "when cervical dilation is 3-4 cm") to standardized clinical syntax ($3\text{--}4\text{ cm}$ cervical dilation).Objective Tone: Standardized methodology terminology (e.g., EEG data acquisition, neurophysiological frequency shifts, analgesic efficacy).