The Effect of Apricot Kernel Oil Cream on Post-episiotomy Pain Intensity in Primiparous Women: A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Background & aim: Episiotomy pain in the first days after birth can affect the mother's quality of life, mental health, and interaction with and care of the newborn. According to the evidence, apricot kernel oil, through anti-inflammatory properties and phenolic compounds, could reduce pain. This study was performed to assess the effect of apricot kernel oil cream on post-episiotomy pain intensity in primiparous women. Methods: This triple-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on ۷۰ primiparous women visiting a teaching hospital in Mashhad, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and placebo groups using permuted block randomization. The intervention started ۲ hours after episiotomy repair by applying two cm of cream (medication or placebo) on the episiotomy site and was repeated every ۱۲ hours for ۱۰ days. Pain intensity was assssed by McGill's questionnaire before intervention, in the first ۲۴ hours after delivery, on the fifth day, and on the ۱۰th day after delivery. Data were analyzed with SPSS (version ۲۱) using Chi-square, Fisher exact test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney. Results: The mean total pain score had no significant difference between the two groups  on the first day following intervention (P=۰.۵۸). But on the fifth (P=۰.۰۱۵) and ۱۰th day postintervention (P<۰.۰۱), there was a significant difference  between the two groups, i. e. the mean total pain score in the intervention group was ۱۲.۲۴±۳.۵۶ and ۵.۱۷±۲.۰۱ and in the placebo group was ۱۵.۵۷±۵.۷۶, and ۸.۴۷±۳.۹۱, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results, apricot kernel oil could be suggested as an topical complementary medication for episiotomy wound pain relief. Larger studies recommended to measure drug’s efficacy and safety before its routine prescription.

کلیدواژه ها:

Apricot Kernel ، Perineum ، Episiotomy ، Pain ، Herbal Oil