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Cognitive Behavioral Counseling and Sleep Quality in Pregnant Women: a Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Sleep and Development (L Tarokh, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The study was conducted to determine the effect of cognitive behavioral counseling on sleep quality of pregnant women.

Recent Findings

This study was a parallel randomized controlled trial in Zanjan’s comprehensive healthcare centers in 2019. Convenience sampling was conducted on 56 eligible women who were singleton primiparous participants and having sleep quality score more than 5. Participants were divided into two groups of intervention and control (28 in each) based on the blocked random allocation method. In the intervention group, counseling was conducted in five 90-min session on a weekly basis according to the Edinger and Carney’s multi components program of CBT, while the control group received the routine prenatal care. The study tools included Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Restless Leg Syndrome Screening Scale, and Berlin Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted Generalized Estimating Equation test. By controlling pre-test scores, the quality of sleep and its subscales except use of sleep medications in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the follow-up periods (p’s<0.05). Moreover, the scores of depression and stress improved in the intervention group compared to the control group over the time (p’s<0.05). However, anxiety score did not change significantly.

Summary

It seems that cognitive behavioral counseling could improve the sleep quality of pregnant women.

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Acknowledgements

Hereby, we express our sincere gratitude and appreciation from the honorable Vice-Chancellor of Research, the honorable Deputy of Health and Head of the State Health Center, the honorable Provincial Health Center Authority, dear colleagues from Urban Integrated Health Centers, dear colleagues from labor preparation class at Zanjan Comprehensive Health Center No. 3, and the pregnant women who participated in this project.

Code Availability

The registration code is IR.ZUMS.REC.1397.277.

Funding

The research was funded by Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services with the registration code (IR.ZUMS.REC.1397.277).

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Correspondence to Roghieh Kharaghani.

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The study complies with current ethical considerations.

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Ethical principles were observed in all stages of the study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Khatibi, S., Kazemi, M., Zenoozian, S. et al. Cognitive Behavioral Counseling and Sleep Quality in Pregnant Women: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Curr Sleep Medicine Rep 7, 120–128 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-021-00213-2

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