Effectiveness of P6 Acupressure on Reduction of Nausea, Vomiting & Retching among Antenatal Women attending Antenatal Clinic at District Hospitals of Sikkim

  • Kessang Lepcha M. Sc., Nursing Student, Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing, Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
  • Barkha Devi Assistant Professor, Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing, Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8926-3867
  • Mridula Das Principal, Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing, Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Keywords: Nausea, Vomiting, Retching, P6 Acupoint, Acupressure Wristband, Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Nausea vomiting and retching are troublesome symptoms, which occur during the first trimester of pregnancy. Considering the adverse effects caused by most drugs used during pregnancy to control these symptoms, alternative treatments such as acupressure have been suggested in various studies. The present study examined the effectiveness of acupressure wristband at P6 point on nausea, vomiting and retching during pregnancy among Sikkimese women.

Methods: A non-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted in outpatient department of District Hospitals of Sikkim in 2017 among 80 antenatal women having mild nausea, with or without vomiting or retching within 8th to 12th weeks of gestational period. After consecutive sampling, participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups comprising 40 women in each group. The experimental group applied the acupressure wrist band and self-assessed symptoms were recorded twice a day as per Rhodes Index Scale. The control group did not receive any intervention but was asked to record the self-assessed symptoms as per Rhodes Index Scale.Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 15 applying descriptive, and inferential statistical methods.

Result: A significant difference was observed on 5th, 6th and 7th day after performing the intervention in experimental group as compared to control group. Further, the mean duration, discomfort and frequency of nausea, vomiting and retching scores in experimental group showed significant decrease as compared to the control group (p <0.001).

Conclusion: Acupressure on P6 point has proved to be effective to reduce the duration, discomfort and frequency of nausea, vomiting and retching.

How to cite this article:
Lepcha K, Devi B, Das M. Effectiveness of P6 Acupressure on Reduction of Nausea, Vomiting & Retching among Antenatal Women attending Antenatal Clinic at District Hospitals of Sikkim. Int J Nurs Midwif Res 2020; 7(1): 24-30.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9318.202005

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Published
2020-07-18