Aim: We aimed to determine and compare the effect of Hegu and Ciliao acupressure on labor pain and delivery outcome.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 105 primiparous women in active phase of first-stage labor were equally assigned to three groups receiving acupressure on either Hegu or Ciliao point during uterus contractions and control group with no intervention. Pain was assessed by numerical rating scale (0 to 10) in three cervical dilatation stages (4-5, 6-7, and 8-10 cm), before and after intervention. Mode of delivery and neonatal Apgar score were considered as delivery outcomes.
Results: The three groups were similar in baseline characteristics. Pain relief was significant in both acupressure groups in three cervical dilatation stages. In control group, however, pain relief was significant in the first and second but not third stage. Pain relief was significantly greater in Hegu and Ciliao groups compared with controls in all stages. Also, acupressure of Ciliao point was superior to Hegu point in pain relief in the first and second but not third stage. No significant difference was observed in terms of delivery outcomes.
Conclusion: Acupressure of Ciliao and Hegu points are effective in controlling labor pain with a slight superiority for Ciliao point. Acupressure of these points, however, does not affect delivery or neonatal outcomes.
General information
Acronym
Hegu and Ciliao acupressure on labor pain
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT201601283860N23
Registration date:2016-02-05, 1394/11/16
Registration timing:retrospective
Last update:
Update count:0
Registration date
2016-02-05, 1394/11/16
Registrant information
Name
Gity Ozgoli
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 21 8820 2512
Email address
gozgoli@sbmu.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Expected recruitment start date
2008-07-22, 1387/05/01
Expected recruitment end date
2008-11-21, 1387/09/01
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Comparison effect of Hegu and Ciliao acupressure on labor pain and delivery outcome in the first stage of labor in primiparous womencontrolled trial
Public title
Effect of Hegu and Ciliao acupressure on labor pain
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: age range of 19-35 years; term pregnancy (>37 weeks of gestation); planned vaginal delivery without obstetrical or non-obstetrical complications; fetal vertex presentation; being in active phase of first-stage labor with cervical dilatation of ≥4 cm; presence of at least three uterine contractures within 10 minutes.
Exclusion criterion: unwillingness to continue taking part in the study.
Age
From 19 years old to 35 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
105
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Street address
Neat to Ayatollah Taleghani-Arab Street--Yemen Street- Chamran Highway
City
Tehran
Postal code
Approval date
2010-09-23, 1389/07/01
Ethics committee reference number
25/12/57/پ
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Labor pain
ICD-10 code
XV
ICD-10 code description
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Labor pain
Timepoint
in three cervical dilatation stages (4-5, 6-7, and 8-10 cm), before and after intervention
Method of measurement
numerical rating scale
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Mode of delivery
Timepoint
once-after delivery
Method of measurement
Questioner
2
Description
Neonatal Apgar Score
Timepoint
1 and 5 minute after birth
Method of measurement
check list
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group 1- Hegu acupressure: The subjects of Hegu group were asked to sit in their favorable position and the researcher sat in front of them. As the women notified to have pain, the researcher applied pressure to the Hegu point of the right hand by her right thumb. To prevent any discomfort, the pressure was applied deeply and up and down around the Hegu point until nail bed color of the researcher changed. Applying pressure was stopped by the end of each contraction and was started again by the beginning of another contraction. The interventions were applied at the cervical dilatations of 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm and 8-10 cm during six uterus contractions.
Category
Other
2
Description
Intervention group 2-Ciliao acupressure:The women of the Ciliao group were asked to sit in their favorable position and the researcher sat behind them in a way to have access to sacral region. As the women notified to have pain, the researcher applied pressure deeply and in a rotational manner to bilateral Ciliao points simultaneously until the color of the examiner nail bed changed. Applying pressure was stopped by the end of each contraction and was started again by the beginning of another contraction. The interventions were applied at the cervical dilatations of 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm and 8-10 cm during six uterus contractions.
Category
Other
3
Description
Control group: Tthe researcher attended the bedside of the subjects and performed all the routine activities done for the other two groups except applying acupressure. The researcher communicated with parturient women verbally like other two groups
Category
Other
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Shahid Akbarabadi Hospital
Full name of responsible person
Giti Ozgoli
Street address
Nursing and Midwifery School, Niayesh Highway, Vali-asr Street
City
Tehran
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Giti Ozgoli
Street address
Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Niayesh Highway, Vali-asr Street
City
Tehran
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
empty
Domestic or foreign origin
empty
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
empty
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University Of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Giti Ozgoli
Position
PhD/Assistant Professor of Midwifery
Other areas of specialty/work
Street address
Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Niayesh Highway, Vali-asr Street
City
Tehran
Postal code
1985717443
Phone
+98 21 8865 5366
Fax
+98 21 8820 2521
Email
gozgoli@sbmu.ac.irg.ozgoli@gmail.com
Web page address
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Giti Ozgoli
Position
PhD/Assistant Professor of Midwifery
Other areas of specialty/work
Street address
Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Niayesh Highway, Vali-asr Street
City
Tehran
Postal code
1985717443
Phone
+98 21 8865 5366
Fax
+98 21 8820 2521
Email
gozgoli@sbmu.ac.irg.ozgoli@gmail.com
Web page address
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)