Objective: To compare self-correct diagnosis of true labor between a special education group and routine education group.

Material and Method: A randomized controlled study was performed in 200 primigravida attending at antenatal care (ANC) clinic, Rajavithi Hospital between October 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010. They were randomly enrolled and divided into two equal groups, the first hundred cases were the special education group and the other hundred cases were the routine education group. Self-correct diagnosis of true labor onset was defined as coming to the labor room because of true labor pain and delivery in the same visit.

Results: There were 85 and 79 pregnant women in the special and routine education groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in mean maternal age, 25.20 years versus 25.54 years). The cesarean section rate was 35.3% versus 26.6%. There was higher significance of self-correct diagnosis of true labor onset between the special and routine education group (91.8% vs. 77.2%), respectively (p = 0.01).

Conclusion: The special education group had significantly better self-correct diagnosis of true labor onset, compared with the routine education group.

Keywords: Antenatal education, Self-correct diagnosis, True labor