Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to the deterioration in comfort experienced after cesarean section, mothers go through troubled hours, have problems with breastfeeding, and cannot even meet their own and their baby's needs. This study was conducted to determine the effect of neuro-linguistic programming on mothers' comfort levels following cesarean section in the postpartum period. METHODS: This study was performed from 1 January to 1 September 2023 as a prospective randomized controlled single-blind clinical trial with 100 participants (50 experimental, 50 control). The research data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Postpartum Comfort Scale. The dependent samples t test and independent samples t test were used in the analysis of research data as well as numbers, percentages, and means. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the effect of the NLP more accurately by controlling the pre-test scores. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the mean pretest and posttest postpartum comfort scale scores, physical comfort scores, psycho-spiritual comfort scores, and sociocultural comfort scores of mothers in the intervention group. In this regard, mothers in the intervention group had higher mean postpartum comfort scale scores, physical comfort scores, psycho-spiritual comfort scores, and sociocultural comfort scores in the posttest phase than in the pretest phase. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that neuro-linguistic programming enhanced the postpartum comfort levels of mothers who underwent cesarean delivery. In this context, it is recommended that nurses and midwives enhance participants' comfort through the use of neuro-linguistic programming techniques in care processes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05646537.