The Effect of Video Assisted Information on Anxiety and Pain Associated with Intrauterine Device Insertion

Abstract

Fear of procedural pain or stress may be a barrier to women accessing intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of video-assisted information on the anxiety and pain levels of patients undergoing IUD placement procedure.

Introduction: Fear of procedural pain or stress may be a barrier to women accessing intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of video-assisted information on the anxiety and pain levels of patients undergoing IUD placement procedure. Methods: A total of 100 patients who underwent IUD insertion were prospectively enrolled in this observational case-control study. Study group included 50 patients who received both verbal and video-based information, while control group included 50 patients who received only verbal information regarding IUD insertion. The anxiety of the participants was measured by Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale, both before and after the IUD insertion. State Anxiety Scale (STAI-S) was used to evaluate the current anxiety levels, and Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI-T) was used to evaluate the general and stable aspects of anxiety. Pain was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) immediately after the IUD insertion procedure. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the pre-intervention STAI-S and STAI-T scores between the study and control groups (p = 0.098 for STAI-S, p = 0.641 for STAI-T). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference between the post-intervention STAI-S score between the groups (p = 0.381). However, pain scores measured by VAS were significantly lower in the study group when compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Video-assisted information about IUD insertion did not have a reducing effect on anxiety, but was associated with a statistically significant decrease in pain.