Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Supportive-Educational Tele-counseling versus Routine Care for Treatment of Constipation and Heartburn

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hadiseh Shamsi 1
Atefeh Ahmadi 2
Moghadameh Mirzaee 3
Firoozeh Mirzaee 2

1 Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Reproductive and Family Health Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.34172/jkmu.3804
Abstract
Background: Pregnancy prompts a raft of physiological changes in women, such as constipation and heartburn. The telephone is one of the most accessible means of communication for people. The present study aimed to assess the impact of Tele Supportive-Educational Counseling on treating constipation and heartburn among pregnant women.
Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental study on 110 pregnant women referring to primary care centers in Neyriz and Estahban, Fars, Iran in 2020. The Rome III and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) questionnaires assessed constipation and heartburn in pregnant women, respectively. The two questionnaires were completed before the intervention. Participants scoring over eight were distributed between the intervention and control groups to assess the constipation and heartburn variables. Individuals were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. In the intervention groups, the researcher provided telephone educational support counseling via three calls of 10-20 minutes, weekly for three weeks. In the control group, standard care was offered. One week after the intervention, the two questionnaires were completed again. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results: In the constipation and heartburn intervention groups, tele-supportive-educational counseling before and after the intervention significantly mitigated constipation and heartburn (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: The results suggested that educational supportive telephone counseling has improved constipation and heartburn in pregnant women. Hence, this method can be recommended to midwifery policymakers as a treatment method for pregnant women in clinical settings.

Highlights

Firoozeh Mirzaee (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

 

Keywords

Constipation
Heartburn
Pregnancy
Distance counseling
Subjects
  1. Harfoush MS, Abd Algany MM, Ghattas VN, Elsakka EA. Effect of Foot Reflexology on Constipation and Fetal Movement During Pregnancy. Tanta Scientific Nursing Journal. 2024 Feb 1;32(1):278-92. DOI: 10.21608/tsnj.2024.341034.
  2. Abasi H, Nasrabadi FD, Gerow HJ, Yadi F, Khorashadizadeh F. The frequency of pregnancy complaints and the effective socio-demographic factors among pregnant women referring to neyshabur health centers in 2021. Middle East J Rehabil Health Stud. 2022;10(2):e130394. DOI: /10.5812/mejrh-130394.
  3. Baeiri N, Mahrouzadeh S, Yosefi S, Bioos S, Mokaberinejad R, Jafari Dehkordi E. Constipation in pregnancy from the perspective of Iranian traditional medicine. Medical History. 2017;9(30):7.
  4. Reijonen JK, Tihtonen KMH, Luukkaala TH, Uotila JT. Association of dietary fiber, liquid intake and lifestyle characteristics with gastrointestinal symptoms and pregnancy outcome. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X. 2022 Oct 15;16:100168. DOI: 10.1016/j.eurox.2022.100168.
  5. Esfandiari M, Faramarzi M, Nasiri-Amiri F, Parsian H, Chehrazi M, Pasha H, Omidvar S, Gholinia H. Effect of supportive counseling on pregnancy-specific stress, general stress, and prenatal health behaviors: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Patient Education and Counseling. 2020 Nov 1;103(11):2297-304. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.04.024.
  6. Rostampour S, Erfanian AF, Kordi M, Shakeri MT, Akhlaghi F, ASGHARI NSM. The effect of couples' supportive counseling on self-care behavior in women with insulin-treated gestational diabetes: A randomized clinical trial. 2020. DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1064_21
  7. Lee PS, Tsao LI, Liu CY, Lee CL. Effectiveness of telephone-based counseling for improving the quality of life among middle-aged women. Health care for women international. 2014 Jan 1;35(1):74-86. DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2013.770000.
  8. Westwood AR. Telehealth and maternity. British Journal of Midwifery. 2021;29(6):352-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.12.008.
  9. Abedian Z, Abbaszadeh N, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Shakeri MT. The effect of telephone support on the severity of nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy in the primiparous women. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility. 2014;17(118):18-29. DOI: 10.61186/pcnm.13.3.59
  10. Xie W, Dai P, Qin Y, Wu M, Yang B, Yu X. Effectiveness of telemedicine for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: an updated meta-analysis of 32 randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2020;20(1):1-14. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-02892-1
  11. Alqahtani NS. The Effectiveness of Dietary Intervention in Managing Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms: A Prospective Study. Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences. 2025 Jul 5;14:154-62. DOI: 10.47310/jpms2025140621
  12. Luo L, Zhou K, Zhang J, Xu L, Yin W. Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Dec 4;12(12):CD010655. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010655.pub3
  13. Mirghafourvand M, Rad AH, Charandabi SMA, Fardiazar Z, Shokri K. The effect of probiotic yogurt on constipation in pregnant women: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal. 2016;18(11). DOI: 10.5812/ircmj.39870
  14. Moradniani M, Eskini M, Mirbeik-Sabzevari Z, Sheikhi E, Tarahi MJ, Imani-Nasab MH. Is there a relation between gastroesophageal reflux disease and occupational stress among nurses? A case study from Iran 2016. Govaresh. 2018;23(2):114-20.
  15. Davidson, Danielle and Gai Harrison. “Heard but not seen: Exploring youth counsellors’ experiences of telephone counselling.” Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 2020: 32(1):73-85. DOI: 10.11157/anzswj-vol32iss1id708.
  16. Yuliana Y. Challenges In Telemedicine Implementation For Pregnancy Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic. (JKG) Jurnal Keperawatan Global. 2020;5(2):100-9. DOI: 10.37341/jkg.v5i2.156.
  17. Shields AD, Wagner RK, Knutzen D, Deering S, Nielsen PE. Maintaining access to maternal fetal medicine care by telemedicine during a global pandemic. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. 2020:1357633X20957468. DOI:10.1177/1357633X20957468
  18. Pedram Razi S, Satiyarvand A, Tabari F, Kazemnejad A, Tizh Maghz Z, Navidhamidi M. The effect of education and telephone counseling on the self-efficacy of women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research. 2018;13(1):64-72. DOI: 10.21859/ijnr-13019.
  19. Cetin AA, Bektas H, Coskun HS. The effect of telephone triage on symptom management in patients with cancer undergoing systemic chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2022 Dec 1;61:102221. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102221.
  20. Høyer BB, Toft GV, Debess J, Ramlau-Hansen CH. A nurse-led telephone session and quality of life after radiotherapy among women with breast cancer: a randomized trial. The open nursing journal. 2011;5:31. DOI: 10.2174/1874434601105010031.
  21. Snoswell CL, Chelberg G, De Guzman KR, Haydon HH, Thomas EE, Caffery LJ, et al. The clinical effectiveness of telehealth: A systematic review of meta-analyses from 2010 to 2019. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. 2021:1357633X211022907. DOI: 10.1177/1357633X211022907
  22. Hongyu Z, Nana L, Mingwei H, Feifei Z, Yan Z, Tiantian L, Yeqing C. Effect of Biofeedback Combined with Psychotherapy on Functional Constipation Complicated with Anxiety and Depression. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. 2025 Mar;50(1):65-9. DOI: 10.1007/s10484-024-09670-1
  23. Ozturk MH, Kılıc SP. Effective of education on quality of life and constipation severity in patients with primary constipation. Patient Education and Counseling. 2019;102(2):316-23. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.09.011.
  24. CASALE M, SABATINO L, MOFFA A, Capuano F, Luccarelli V, Vitali M, Ribolsi M, Cicala M, Salvinelli F. Breathing training on lower esophageal sphincter as a complementary treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): a systematic review. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences. 2016 Nov 1;20(21).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 32
Pages 1-6

Home

Editorial Board

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Guide for Reviewers

Contact Us