Development and Evaluation of 3D Delivery Animation Software Designed to Improve the Mother’s and Spouse’s Satisfaction with Delivery

Purpose: To clarify the effectiveness of 3-D delivery animation software for the mother’s and husband’s satisfaction with delivery. Subjects and Method: We independently developed a software application used to display the pelvic region and explain the labor process. The study involved a collaboration with hospital staff who recruited 18 primiparous and 18 multiparous mothers who were hospitalized for delivery at Facility A. The midwife explained the process of delivery using the “Delivery Animation Software”. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed and analyzed separately for primiparous and multiparous mothers and their husbands. Results: 1) For both primiparous and multiparous couples, both mothers and their husbands gained a significantly higher level of understanding after delivery than during pregnancy. 2) The Self-Evaluation Scale for Experience of Delivery results were as follows: “I did my best for the baby even if it was painful” was selected more often for “birth coping skills”;“reliable medical staff” was selected more often for “physiological birth process”;“the birth progressed as I expected” was selected frequently by primiparous mothers;and “the birth progressed smoothly” was selected often by multiparous mothers. 3) In terms of husbands’ satisfaction with the delivery, “I was satisfied with the delivery”, “I was given an easy-to-understand explanation”, and “They explained the process to me” was selected of primiparous and multiparous fathers. 4) All primiparous and multiparous mothers positively evaluated whether the delivery animation was helpful in understanding the process of delivery. Conclusion: The delivery animation was effective in improving the understanding and satisfaction of both the mothers and their husbands.

Effects of Individual Explanations by Midwives about the Process of Delivery, Using 3D Animation Software, on Parturient Females’ Understanding of and Satisfaction with Delivery

Objectives: To clarify the effects on the delivery experience of midwives giving parturient females individual explanations about how the course of delivery, using 3D animation software (Delivery Animation). Method: 1) Subjects: Women admitted to Institution A for delivery;70 in the intervention group (34 primipara, 36 multipara), and 79 (41 primipara, 38 multipara) in the control group. 2) Data collection method: Intervention group;3) During phases 1 and 2 of delivery, after internal examinations, collaborative-researcher midwives gave parturient women explanations about the course of delivery, using tablets with the Delivery Animation software installed. This software was independently developed by the researchers. On postpartum day 1, the collaborative-researcher midwives distributed anonymous, self-administered questionnaires to the postpartum women. 4) During phases 1 and 2 of delivery, the course of delivery was explained using existing methods, and anonymous, self-administered questionnaires were distributed on postpartum day 1. 5) The intervention group and control group were compared using descriptive and inferential statistics, organized into primipara and multipara. Results: In the Understanding the Delivery Process category, primipara in the intervention group had significantly higher scores for “understood baby’s rotation” (p < 0.01) and “understood progress through delivery” (p < 0.05). In multipara, the intervention group scored significantly higher for “understood baby’s rotation” (p < 0.01). In the anonymous self-evaluation, primipara in the intervention group scored significantly higher in “midwife I could trust was by my side” (p < 0.01). Opinions on the Delivery Animation were classified into 7 categories. In their evaluations of the Delivery Animation, 89.0% of primipara and 92.0% of multipara said it helped them understand the course of labor, and 85.0% of primipara and 86.0% of multipara said it helped them communicate with the doctor/midwife. Conclusion: The significant differences in understanding of the course of delivery seen between the intervention and control groups, the satisfaction scores on the “Self-evaluation scale for experience of delivery (abridged version)” questionnaire, opinions about and evaluation of the Delivery Animation all show that a personal explanation of the course of childbirth has a positive effect on the understanding and satisfaction of parturient women.