Doula Support in Office Hysteroscopy: Results From A Pilot Study

Background: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of doula support in office hysteroscopy and the potential effectiveness of doula support during office hysteroscopy to reduce anxiety and pain. Methods: This study was designed as a two-armed pilot study, with an intervention and a control group, with participants allocated to each group in a 1:1 ratio. 30 of 58 patients were initially excluded from due to not could read Swedish or declining to participate in the study. Twenty-eight women with indications for office hysteroscopy were randomized to receive doula support (intervention) during the procedure or to routine care (control group). The data collected included general and gynecological data, Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S (STAI), and the Numeric Rate Scale (NRS) for pain intensity. Feasibility was measured in terms of successful office hysteroscopies, duration, and adverse events. Results: Success rates, duration, and adverse events were similar between the groups, with no differences in reported pain intensity. Both groups had high, comparable levels of anxiety before the procedure, whereas after the procedure, the doula group showed slightly increased anxiety while the control group showed slightly decreased anxiety. There was a significant difference between groups favoring the control group when comparing STAI-S mean score post-procedure but not when analysing the mean change across groups. Conclusion: Exploring a new take on doula support, this pilot study suggests that it may be feasible but not superior to routine care support in office hysteroscopy. Also, high anxiety levels may be more of an issue than pain during the procedure. Further investigation of the state and trait anxiety in different hysteroscopy populations and health care contexts is recommended Trial Registration The study was registered in de Research Database Registry in Västra Götalandsregionen (Sweden) with number: 254161 on 10 November 2018.