Childbirth ExperienceBirth TheaterNCT07833215
Creating a Positive Perception of Birth Experience: The Effect of Birth Theater
A study testing Birth theater and Standard Childbirth Preparation Education in people with Childbirth Experience, run by Uskudar University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to evaluate the effect of birth theater, conducted in addition to conventional childbirth preparation education, on pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Childbirth Experience
- What is being tested?
- Birth theater and Standard Childbirth Preparation Education
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 27 Mar 2024to 17 May 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Primiparous women.
- Women who applied for childbirth preparation education.
- Women between 20 and 38 weeks of gestation.
- Women who can speak and understand Turkish.
- Women aged 18 years or older.
- Women who complete the childbirth preparation education.
Who cannot join
- Women with high-risk pregnancies.
- Women with a planned cesarean delivery.
- Multiparous women.
- Women who do not complete the childbirth preparation education.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Üsküdar University NP Sağlık Yerleşkesi
Istanbul, Istanbul, 34768
About this study
This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to evaluate the effect of birth theater, conducted in addition to conventional childbirth preparation education, on pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth. A total of 60 pregnant women participated in the study, with 30 assigned to the intervention group and 30 to the control group. The intervention group received conventional childbirth preparation education in addition to a 4-hour birth theater intervention consisting of two sessions, during which vaginal and cesarean birth scenarios were enacted. The control group received only conventional childbirth preparation education. Data were collected face-to-face using a Participant Information Form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, and the Fear of Birth and Readiness for Birth subscales of the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of birth theater, implemented in addition to conventional childbirth preparation education, on pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth and related psychological outcomes.
A total of 60 pregnant women participated in the study. 30 participants were assigned to the intervention group and 30 to the control group. Both groups received conventional childbirth preparation education. The intervention group additionally participated in a birth theater intervention consisting of two sessions with a total duration of 4 hours. During the birth theater sessions, vaginal birth and cesarean birth scenarios were enacted to provide pregnant women with an experiential opportunity to observe and understand the childbirth process. The control group received only conventional childbirth preparation education consisting of six 4-hour classes.
Data were collected face-to-face using a Participant Information Form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, and the Fear of Birth and Readiness for Birth subscales of the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.
- Conditions
- Childbirth Experience
- Being tested
- Birth theater, Standard Childbirth Preparation Education
- Keywords
- birth theater, traumatic birth perception, readiness for childbirth, birth fear, Childbirth education
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Birth theaterBehavioural
Childbirth preparation classes were held for 3 hours, twice a week, and in addition, one day a week was dedicated to simulated cesarean and vaginal birth scenarios. In addition to the total of 18 hours of childbirth preparation training, a 4-hour hands-on simulation experience was conducted. During this phase, 2 hours were devoted to simulating a vaginal birth and 2 hours to simulating a cesarean birth.
Standard Childbirth Preparation EducationBehavioural
Participants in the control group received standard childbirth preparation education without birth theater.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Birth theater group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Birth theater |
| Control group | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Standard Childbirth Preparation Education |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale
In the internal consistency analysis conducted to determine the reliability of the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.895. The scale consists of 13 items, with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 130. On this scale, which uses a rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, the mean total scores are as follows:
- 0-26 points is classified as "very low,"
- 27-52 points is classified as "low,"
- 53-78 points is classified as "moderate,"
- 79-104 points is classified as "high,"
- 105-130 points is classified as "very high." A higher score on the scale indicates a higher level of perceived traumatic childbirth.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Prenatal Self-Evaluation Scale
The Prenatal Self-Assessment Scale is a 79-item, 4-point Likert-type scale with seven subscales: thoughts about own and baby's health, acceptance of pregnancy, acceptance of the maternal role, readiness for childbirth, fear of childbirth, relationship with own mother, and relationship with partner. Each subscale contains 10-15 items. Internal consistency is high (α=0.81), with subscale coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.85. Items 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10,11,12,14,15,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,28,31,32,33,35,37,38,40,47,48,49,50,53,55,56,59,60,61,70,71,72,73,74,75,78,79 are reverse-scored. Response options are 4=Strongly agree, 3=Somewhat agree, 2=Slightly agree, 1=Strongly disagree; reverse-scored items are scored oppositely. Total scores range from 79 to 316; lower scores indicate better adjustment to pregnancy.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Sep 2026
- Study start27 Mar 2024
- Primary completion17 May 2024
- Study completion17 May 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Childbirth ExperienceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to two parallel groups: an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received standard childbirth preparation education supplemented with birth theater, while the control group received standard childbirth preparation education without birth theater. The outcomes of the two groups were compared to evaluate the effect of the birth theater intervention on participants' perceptions of the childbirth experience.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tuğba YILMAZ ESENCAN, Uskudar University
- Investigators
- Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan, PhD, Principal investigator, Üsküdar University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07833215
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023- 51
- Other IDs
- 61351342/ aralık 2023- 51
- Acronym
- Birth Theater
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 22 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Creating a Positive Perception of Birth Experience: The Effect of Birth Theater
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07833215
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Birth Theater / 2023- 51
- Conditions
- Childbirth Experience
- Keywords
- birth theater, traumatic birth perception, readiness for childbirth, birth fear, Childbirth education
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 27 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 17 May 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 17 May 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to evaluate the effect of birth theater, conducted in addition to conventional childbirth preparation education, on pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth. A total of 60 pregnant women participated in the study, with 30 assigned to the intervention group and 30 to the control group. The intervention group received conventional childbirth preparation education in addition to a 4-hour birth theater intervention consisting of two sessions, during which vaginal and cesarean birth scenarios were enacted. The control group received only conventional childbirth preparation education. Data were collected face-to-face using a Participant Information Form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, and the Fear of Birth and Readiness for Birth subscales of the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of birth theater, implemented in addition to conventional childbirth preparation education, on pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth and related psychological outcomes.
A total of 60 pregnant women participated in the study. 30 participants were assigned to the intervention group and 30 to the control group. Both groups received conventional childbirth preparation education. The intervention group additionally participated in a birth theater intervention consisting of two sessions with a total duration of 4 hours. During the birth theater sessions, vaginal birth and cesarean birth scenarios were enacted to provide pregnant women with an experiential opportunity to observe and understand the childbirth process. The control group received only conventional childbirth preparation education consisting of six 4-hour classes.
Data were collected face-to-face using a Participant Information Form, the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, and the Fear of Birth and Readiness for Birth subscales of the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to two parallel groups: an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received standard childbirth preparation education supplemented with birth theater, while the control group received standard childbirth preparation education without birth theater. The outcomes of the two groups were compared to evaluate the effect of the birth theater intervention on participants' perceptions of the childbirth experience.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Birth theater group | Experimental | Behavioral: Birth theater |
| Control group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Standard Childbirth Preparation Education |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Primiparous women.
- Women who applied for childbirth preparation education.
- Women between 20 and 38 weeks of gestation.
- Women who can speak and understand Turkish.
- Women aged 18 years or older.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Women with high-risk pregnancies.
- Women with a planned cesarean delivery.
- Multiparous women.
- Women who do not complete the childbirth preparation education.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Birth theaterChildbirth preparation classes were held for 3 hours, twice a week, and in addition, one day a week was dedicated to simulated cesarean and vaginal birth scenarios. In addition to the total of 18 hours of childbirth preparation training, a 4-hour hands-on simulation experience was conducted. During this phase, 2 hours were devoted to simulating a vaginal birth and 2 hours to simulating a cesarean birth. | Behavioural | Birth theater group |
| Standard Childbirth Preparation EducationParticipants in the control group received standard childbirth preparation education without birth theater. | Behavioural | Control group |
Primary outcome
Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention.
In the internal consistency analysis conducted to determine the reliability of the Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.895. The scale consists of 13 items, with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 130. On this scale, which uses a rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, the mean total scores are as follows: * 0-26 points is classified as "very low," * 27-52 points is classified as "low," * 53-78 points is classified as "moderate," * 79-104 points is classified as "high," * 105-130 points is classified as "very high." A higher score on the scale indicates a higher level of perceived traumatic childbirth.
1 secondary outcome
Prenatal Self-Evaluation Scale
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers.
Related trials for Childbirth Experience
Enrolling by invitation
Testing Implementation Strategies to Support Clinic Fidelity to an Outpatient Hypertension Bundle
Pregnancy Related, Hypertension
RecruitingObservational study
Growing Little PEAPODS Study
Premature Birth, Premature Infant
Recruiting
Rewiring the Chronic Pain Experience: Single-Session Model of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) at The Ottawa Hospital
Chronic Pain
Not yet recruiting
When Death Is Present at Birth: Women's Experiences During Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Not yet recruiting
Mandala Coloring in Late Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Anxiety
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan, PhD principal investigator
Üsküdar University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Birth theater and Standard Childbirth Preparation Education in people with Childbirth Experience, run by Uskudar University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Sep 2026.