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Table 1 Baseline participant characteristics and obstetric outcomes

From: Evaluation of different doses of transcutaneous nerve stimulation for pain relief during labour: a randomized controlled trial

Characteristic

Group

p

TENS 1 (n = 21)

TENS 2 (n = 21)

Placebo (n = 21)

Age (years)

28.3 ± 5.3

28.9 ± 6.0

27.1 ± 5.3

0.545*

Weight (kg)

72.9 ± 10.9

75.9 ± 12.6

71.5 ± 7.7

0.399*

BMI (kg/m2)

26.7 ± 2.9

28.7 ± 5.4

26.8 ± 1.6

0.745*

Presentation

0.714**

 Cephalic-vertex

12 (19)

11 (17.5)

8 (12.7)

 Cephalic-sinciput

5 (7.9)

3 (4.8)

5 (7.9)

 Cephalic-brow

1 (1.6)

3 (4.8)

4 (6.3)

 Cephalic-face

0

0

1 (1.6)

 Breech

3 (4.8)

4 (6.3)

3 (4.8)

Gestational age (weeks)

39.5 ± 1.5

39.6 ± 1.5

39.3 ± 1.3

0.508*

Childbirth preparation course

0.446**

 Yes

13 (20.6)

11 (17.5)

15 (23.8)

 No

8 (12.7)

10 (15.9)

6 (9.5)

Length of first stage (min)

443 (216)

451 (238)

527 (225)

0.532*

Length of second stage (min)

42 (23.5)

40 (18.3)

38 (21.4)

0.722*

Position adopted during labour

0.319**

 Sitting

3 (4.8)

3 (4.8)

1 (1.6)

 Lateral decubitus

1 (1.6)

2 (3.2)

0

 Dorsal decubitus

7 (11.1)

10 (15.9)

4 (6.3)

 Dorsal decubitus and sitting

6 (9.5)

4 (6.3)

9 (14.3)

 Lateral decubitus and sitting

2 (3.2)

0

3 (4.8)

 Lateral and dorsal decubitus

2 (3.2)

2 (3.2)

4 (6.3)

Pushing methods for the second stage of labour

0.774**

 Valsalva pushing

12 (19)

10 (15.9)

12 (19)

 Spontaneous pushing

9 (14.3)

11 (17.5)

9 (14.3)

Perineal laceration

0.469**

 None

1 (1.6)

1 (1.6)

0

 Grade I

15 (23.8)

19 (30.2)

19 (30.2)

 Grade II

4 (6.3)

1 (1.6)

2 (3.2)

 Grade III

1 (1.6)

0

0

Accompanying person during the active phase of labour

21 (33.3)

21 (33.3)

21 (33.3)

1**

  1. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or n (%)
  2. TENS transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, BMI body mass index
  3. *p values obtained from Kruskal-Wallis test and one-way analysis of variance tests
  4. **p values obtained from χ2 test