Study design, participants and setting
This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-
controlled trial. Women aged 18 to 40 years with parity
1-3 who had vaginal birth with episiotomy were included
in the study. Exclusion criteria were: being illiterate; having
no access to a phone line (for follow-up); use of drugs or
psychotropic substances; gestational age of less than 37 or
more than 42 weeks; history of chronic physical or mental
diseases that may interfere with healing; following a special
diet; long-term (over 18 h) rupture of amniotic sac; severe
anemia (haemoglobin less than 70 g/L at admission); history
of hypersensitivity to certain drugs; extension of episiotomy
(tears of grade 3 or 4); and operative delivery.
trial.