Effects of Acupressure on Maternal and Neonatal Obstetric Outcomes during Labor: Study Protocol

Abstract

Background. A Cochrane review found that there is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of acupressure for pain relief. One of the problems detected is the methodological variability reported. Objective. To assess the impact of the application of acupressure on obstetric and neonatal outcomes of labor, pain experience, and mother’s satisfaction with the experience. Method. Design of a protocol to carry out a two-arm multicenter single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Intervention (pressure on LI4 of the left hand, B6 of the left leg, GB21 of the left shoulder, and then the same sequence on the right side) and placebo (application of the technique on points not identified by acupuncture as key points) will be performed by a single researcher. Results. The recruitment began in April 2021 and, to date, there has been the participation of 40 women, divided into 17 included in the experimental group and 23 in the control. Communication of future results will be made in accordance with the CONSORT checklist. Conclusions. The designed protocol could methodologically improve some aspects of previous studies while maintaining adequate statistical power. The effectiveness of acupressure for one or more outcomes proposed (time and pain in labor) could support the inclusion of a new therapeutic tool in the clinical practice of midwives that would allow them to assist pregnant women, improving their experience both physically and psycho-emotionally.