The development of a scale to assess control in pain management during labour

A questionnaire containing 120 rules assessing control in pain management during labour was administered to 300 women within 48 hours of their delivery. Mothers rated each rule on a 7-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was carried out to identify the factor structure of rule-governed behaviours and to identify potential subscales. Five clearly interpretable factors were identified: Control of Information; Control of Decision-making; Control of Emotions; Planning for Control and Compliance with Professional Care. Using a repeated measures design, the instrument was employed to assess the extent to which women exercised control in pain management during labour. The 36-item scale is discussed in terms of its utility and dimensions of control identified by prior research.