Effect of collaborative psychological care on negative emotions, vaginal delivery, and labor duration in primiparas: A retrospective cohort study

This study evaluates the effect of collaborative psychological care during childbirth on reducing negative emotions, increasing vaginal delivery rates, and shortening the labor process. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture using medical records from May 2019 to July 2021. A total of 108 primiparas who met the inclusion criteria were identified and categorized into 2 groups based on the type of care received: the conventional group (n = 54) and the study group (n = 54). The conventional group received standard routine care, including environmental support, health education, vital sign monitoring, psychological guidance, and pain management. The study group received collaborative psychological care in addition to routine nursing, which included the selection of a responsible family member, family-based psychological support training, prenatal psychological diary maintenance, environmental modifications, and continuous labor companionship. Negative emotions were assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90, which evaluates 9 dimensions of psychological distress, with higher scores indicating greater distress. Negative emotion scores, vaginal delivery rates, and labor duration were retrospectively analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in negative emotion scores between the 2 groups (P > .05). Before delivery, the negative emotion scores in the study group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P < .05). The number of vaginal deliveries in the study group was 50 (92.59%), significantly higher than 38 (70.39%) in the conventional group (P < .05). Additionally, the 1st stage and total duration of labor in the study group were (447.95 ± 53.45) minutes and (498.15 ± 35.14) minutes, respectively, both significantly shorter than those in the conventional group (P < .05). The implementation of collaborative psychological care during childbirth can significantly reduce negative emotions, increase vaginal delivery rates, and shorten the labor process in primiparas. These findings suggest that integrating psychological support into routine obstetric care can improve maternal well-being and promote better delivery outcomes, making it a valuable approach for clinical practice.