A feasibility randomised controlled trial of acupressure to assist spontaneous labour for primigravid women experiencing a post-date pregnancy

Mollart, L; Skinner, V; Foureur, M

A feasibility randomised controlled trial of acupressure to assist spontaneous labour for primigravid women experiencing a post-date pregnancy

Mollart, L

Skinner, V Foureur, M

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Midwifery, 2016, 36 pp. 21 - 27
Issue Date:: 2016-05-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Accepted Manuscript VersionAdobe PDF (161.82 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mollart, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8390-0658	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Skinner, V	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Foureur, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0454-0165	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:06:01Z
dc.date.issued	2016-05-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Midwifery, 2016, 36 pp. 21 - 27	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0266-6138	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43773
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. Objective: this Australian feasibility study aimed to determine; the willingness of women experiencing a post-date pregnancy to participate in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of acupressure and compliance with the study protocol. The study also aimed to determine the effect size of the primary outcome in order to calculate a sample size for a future appropriately powered RCT. Design: a two-arm randomised controlled trial. Staff providing clinical care were blinded to group allocation unless the participant disclosed study participation. Setting: maternity services at two outer metropolitan public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Participants: sixty seven healthy primigravid women experiencing a singleton cephalic pregnancy at 40 weeks±2 days gestation were assessed as eligible to participate and were provided with study information. Intervention: both groups received standard clinical care, with the intervention group also receiving verbal and written instructions on the self-administration of three acupoints (Spleen 6, Large Intestine 4, and Gall Bladder 21) to be used until spontaneous or induced labour began. Measurements: assessment of feasibility included determining recruitment rate and acceptability of an RCT for a CAM modality, and acupressure treatment compliance, via participant surveys. The primary clinical outcome was spontaneous onset of labour. Findings: from the 67 women eligible during the timeframe for the study, 44 women (65.6%) agreed to participate and were randomised. There was no statistically significant difference in rate of spontaneous onset of labour (50% acupressure vs 41% control). Twenty nine participant surveys were returned (65.9%). In the intervention group there was a high compliance with the acupressure protocol (83%) and the use of the three acupoints (94%). Conclusions and implications for practice: this feasibility study revealed that pregnant women are interested in the use of CAM, and acupressure in particular, for the initiation of labour. Most women found it acceptable to be randomised to receive the intervention. While the 9% difference in the primary outcome was not statistically significant it is the best estimate of the treatment effect for calculating a sample size of 994 for a future RCT with 80% power, alpha 0.05. Trial registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ANZCTR:12613000145707.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Midwifery	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.midw.2016.02.020	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Acupuncture Therapy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Analgesia, Obstetrical	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Feasibility Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Gravidity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor, Obstetric	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor Onset	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Time Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Outcome Assessment (Health Care)	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Outcome Assessment, Health Care	en_US
dc.title	A feasibility randomised controlled trial of acupressure to assist spontaneous labour for primigravid women experiencing a post-date pregnancy	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	36	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	36	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. Objective: this Australian feasibility study aimed to determine; the willingness of women experiencing a post-date pregnancy to participate in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of acupressure and compliance with the study protocol. The study also aimed to determine the effect size of the primary outcome in order to calculate a sample size for a future appropriately powered RCT. Design: a two-arm randomised controlled trial. Staff providing clinical care were blinded to group allocation unless the participant disclosed study participation. Setting: maternity services at two outer metropolitan public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Participants: sixty seven healthy primigravid women experiencing a singleton cephalic pregnancy at 40 weeks±2 days gestation were assessed as eligible to participate and were provided with study information. Intervention: both groups received standard clinical care, with the intervention group also receiving verbal and written instructions on the self-administration of three acupoints (Spleen 6, Large Intestine 4, and Gall Bladder 21) to be used until spontaneous or induced labour began. Measurements: assessment of feasibility included determining recruitment rate and acceptability of an RCT for a CAM modality, and acupressure treatment compliance, via participant surveys. The primary clinical outcome was spontaneous onset of labour. Findings: from the 67 women eligible during the timeframe for the study, 44 women (65.6%) agreed to participate and were randomised. There was no statistically significant difference in rate of spontaneous onset of labour (50% acupressure vs 41% control). Twenty nine participant surveys were returned (65.9%). In the intervention group there was a high compliance with the acupressure protocol (83%) and the use of the three acupoints (94%). Conclusions and implications for practice: this feasibility study revealed that pregnant women are interested in the use of CAM, and acupressure in particular, for the initiation of labour. Most women found it acceptable to be randomised to receive the intervention. While the 9% difference in the primary outcome was not statistically significant it is the best estimate of the treatment effect for calculating a sample size of 994 for a future RCT with 80% power, alpha 0.05. Trial registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ANZCTR:12613000145707.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43773