A quasi experimental study to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of infrared light therapy and topical ointment on degree of episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers in a selected hospital, delhi

A quasi experimental study to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of Infrared light therapy and Topical ointment on degree of episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers in a selected hospital, Delhi was under taken by Ms. Tsering Tsomo for partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Nursing at Nightingale Institute of Nursing, Noida, Chaudhary Charan Singh University during the year 2014-2016.
The objectives of this study were to: (i) To assess and evaluate the degree of episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers before and after administration of infrared light therapy. (ii) To assess and evaluate the degree of episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers before and after administration of topical ointment. (iii) To compare the effectiveness of administration of infrared light therapy and topical ointment with regard to
degree of episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers.
The conceptual framework of the study was based on Widenbach’s Prescriptive Theory. The research approach adopted for the study was evaluative research approach with pre test post test design.
The study was conducted in post natal ward of ESI Hospital Basaidarapur on 40 post natal mothers, who were selected by purposive sampling technique. There were 20 post natal mothers in Infrared light therapy group and 20 were in Topical ointment group.
Standardized REEDA scale was used to assess the degree of episiotomy wound of post natal mothers. Content validity was done by seven experts from the field of obstetrics and gynecology nursing.
Data was collected from 12.02.16 to 29.02.16 at ESI hospital Basaidarapur for Infrared light therapy and Topical ointment therapy. Degree of episiotomy wound healing of Postnatal mother’s were assessed by using standardized REEDA scale during the procedure. Pre test was done on the first day and the post test was done to assess the degree of episiotomy wound healing during the procedure with the interventions (Infrared Light Therapy and Topical Ointment) on the third day.
The collected data was organized, tabulated and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in terms of frequency, percentage, mean, mean difference, median , standard deviation, standard deviation difference, standard error of mean difference and t-value which were used to compare the effectiveness of the two interventions.
The major findings of the study reveal that both the treatments, Infrared Light Therapy and Topical Ointment were effective in healing the episiotomy wound of the post natal mothers. Whereas the Infrared Light Therapy was found to be more effective than Topical Ointment in healing the episiotomy wound among the post natal mothers. As per the researcher, the treatments are simple, economic and effective means in healing the episiotomy wound among the post natal mothers.
The findings of the study have several implications on nursing practice. Based on the findings, recommendations for future research were also made.