Comparing the effect of e-learning and educational booklet on the childbirth self-efficacy: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effect of e-learning and educational booklet on the childbirth self-efficacy (CBSE).

Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 153 pregnant women referred to health centers in the city of Miandoab, Iran in 2015–2016. Participants were assigned into two intervention groups (e-learning and educational booklet) and the control group. A single face-to-face session was held for intervention groups about the management of labor pain in 30–34 weeks of pregnancy and the booklet and software were provided. The CBSE questionnaire was filled out by the participants before intervention and active phase of labor at 4–5 cm dilatation of cervix. One-way ANOVA and ANCOVA test with adjusting the baseline scores were used to compare the mean score of self-efficacy among study groups respectively before and after the intervention.

Results: There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics (p > 0.05). After the intervention, the mean score of the CBSE in the educational booklet group (adjusted mean difference: 113.4; confidence interval 95%: 100.7–126.1) and e-learning group (159.3; 146.5–172.0) was significantly higher than the control group. Also, the mean score of the CBSE in the e-learning group had a significant increase compared to the educational booklet group (45.9; 33.0–58.7).

Conclusions: The results indicate that e-learning and educational booklet are effective in enhancing mothers' CBSE. Thus, the mothers are recommended to use these teaching methods.

Keywords:

• Childbirth
• booklet
• software
• self-efficacy

Acknowledgements

Researcher and his colleagues express their gratitude to the research vice chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, heads and staff of health centers and bases in Miandoab city. Also, all pregnant women who helped us with a lot of passion in all stages of the research are appreciated.

Disclosure statement

There was no conflict of interest for all the authors. This article is a result of MSc student thesis. This study was funded by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (no: 5/55/5998).