Evaluate the effectiveness of infrared lamp therapy on episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers at selected hospitals in Kanyakumari district

One of the major problems during postnatal period is episiotomy wound and pain. The lack of episiotomy wound healing leads negative effect on breastfeeding and mother's baby bonding. Infrared lamp therapy enhances the episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of infrared lamp therapy on episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers.

The design adopted was quasi experimental pre-test and post-test control group design. The purposive sampling technique was used. The selected conceptual framework was Erenestine Wiedenbach's “The helping art of clinical nursing theory” (1964). The tool used was REEDA scale. Infra red lamp therapy was administered for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day, for three consecutive days. Level of episiotomy wound healing was assessed by the end of third day immediately.

The study revealed that in pre-test level of episiotomy wound healing, all the postnatal mothers had no wound healing before administering infrared lamp therapy. After the infrared lamp therapy, it was amazing that the level of episiotomy wound healing was increased in which, 70% of them had good healing and 30% of them had moderate healing. There was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test mean episiotomy wound healing scores (MD=11.46, t=52.52, p<0.001) in experimental group. There was a significant difference in the post-test mean episiotomy wound healing scores (MD=4.70, t=11.03, p<0.001) in experimental and control group.

Administration of infrared lamp therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers.