Pnm-21: Acupressure Effect on Quality of Life of Pregnant Women with Nausea and Vomiting

Background: Nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy (NVP) is a common complaint affecting approximately 50-80% of pregnant women.NVP can have a significant impact on social and personal life of pregnant women. Nevertheless, a pregnant woman is often reluctant to take any drug, because of their side effects. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of acupressure on quality of life of pregnant women with nausea and vomiting. Materials and Methods: This single-blind clinical trial study was performed on 80 pregnant women with nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy in clinic prenatalogy of Rouhani Hospital of Babol from Jan to June 2010. Women randomly divided in to two groups: study group with the pressure on KID21 (Youmen) point and the placebo group with pressure on sham acupressure (false point). Before entrance to study, quality of life questionnaire (NVPQOL) for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy include four domains (Physical symptoms and aggravating factors, Fatigue, Emotions and limitations) was completed by both groups. Each group was treated with acupressure for 20 minutes per day in four consecutive days, and in 5 Th days both groups filled out questionnaire again. Then results compared with each other. Results: The acupressure improved the pregnant women&#039;s quality of life in both groups significantly (p<0.05) but mean of domains of quality of life had significant difference in intervention group versus placebo (p<0.001). Among the domains of quality of life between two groups only physically domain improved significantly in study group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Acupressure improved the quality of life in pregnant women with nausea and vomiting and can be recommended as a non-medication therapy.