Effects of self-acupressure on pregnancy-related constipation: A single-blind randomized controlled study

Attitudes pregnant women in Türkiye towards holistic complementary and alternative medicine and influencing factors: a web-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women turn to holistic complementary and alternative medicine to cope with problems associated with the changes they experience during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the attitudes of pregnant women in Türkiye toward holistic complementary and alternative medicine and influencing factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional exploratory study was carried out between June and November 2022 with a web-based questionnaire distributed via social media and communication platforms. Two hundred and twenty-one pregnant women participated in the study. A "Participant Identification Form" and the "Attitudes towards Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire" were used to collect the data. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine correlations between variables and scale scores.

RESULTS

It was determined that 84.2% of the participants had knowledge about traditional and complementary therapies, and 77.8% used traditional and complementary therapies. The participants reported that they preferred faith (77.4%), energy healing (76.9%), massage (75.6%), diet (74.2%), meditation/yoga (62.0%), and herbal (59.7%) traditional and complementary therapies the most, and most of them used these methods to reduce nausea, vomiting, edema, and fatigue during pregnancy. The mean Attitudes towards Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire score of the participants was 35.0 (5.04). It was seen that having high school or higher education (p < 0.05), having an income more than expenses (p < 0.001), having received advice from nurses when having a complaint (p < 0.001), having knowledge about traditional and complementary therapies (p < 0.001), and being a practitioner who received services of traditional and complementary therapies (p < 0.001) were positively associated with the utilization of traditional and complementary therapies.

CONCLUSION

In this study, it was determined that the attitudes of pregnant women towards holistic complementary and alternative medicine were high. Their personal characteristics, as well as their knowledge and practice of holistic complementary and alternative medicine affected their attitudes towards holistic complementary and alternative medicine. Obstetrics nurses/midwives should actively participate in training programs on traditional and complementary therapies focused on pregnant women.

Feasibility of self-administered acupressure for allergic rhinitis: a pilot randomized controlled trial and lessons learnt for future studies

OBJECTIVES

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated inflammatory condition that is highly prevalent worldwide. The aim of this pilot trial was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of self-administered acupressure for AR.

METHODS

A randomized, single-blind, non-specific controlled clinical trial was conducted at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, Australia. Fifteen AR patients were randomized into two groups: self-administered acupressure at five specific acupressure (SA) points or five non-specific acupressure (NSA) points (1 min/point, twice a day), and treated for 4 weeks with an 8-week follow-up period. The primary outcome was the change in 7-point scale symptom severity. Secondary outcomes included the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire and standardized activities (RQLQs), medication usage, adverse events and participants' opinions of the blinding method. The Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 26 was used for data analyses.

RESULTS

Fourteen participants completed the study and no major adverse events were reported. No statistically significant differences between SA and NSA groups were identified in 7-point scale symptom severity scores, RQLQs or medication usage. However, participants in the SA group believed that SA was useful for AR and recommended it for self-care. The credibility of the blinding method was successful. No adverse effects were considered to be related to the intervention.

CONCLUSION

Acupressure is feasible and appears to be safe for self-administration by AR sufferers. Experience from this pilot study has guided minor amendments to the protocol. A large-scale randomized controlled trial is warranted to further investigate the efficacy and safety of self-administered acupressure for the management of AR.

Self-administered acupressure for chronic severe functional constipation: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Functional constipation is a disease with a high incidence, which has a bad effect on general health, mental health, and social functioning. However, current treatment is sometimes unsatisfactory. Acupuncture has been proven effective in some randomized controlled trials. Acupressure is a subtype of acupuncture and can be manipulated by the patients at home. But the evidence is limited now. This study aims to provide some strict evidence for the use of self-administered acupressure in the treatment of functional constipation.

METHODS

This 2-armed, parallel, nonspecific controlled, randomized trial will be conducted at The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou. A total of 154 FC patients will be enrolled into the acupoint group and the sham acupoint group with a ratio of 1:1 into this trial and it will consist of a 2-week run-in period, an 8-week intervention period, and an 8-week follow-up period. The treatment will be done by the patients themselves at home twice a day and they should sign in on the WeChat APP every day to make sure they have done the acupressure. The outcome will also be collected in WeChat APP through the diary and questionnaires. For the one who is unable to use the WeChat, the print edition of the diary and questionnaires are provided and the supervision will be done by the short message. The primary outcome will be the proportion of participants whose CSBM≥3 during week 3 to 10. The secondary outcome will be the proportion of participants whose CSBM ≥3 between 2 groups in week 11 to 18, Spontaneous bowel movements, Bristol Stool Form Scale, Straining severity scores, Patient assessment of constipation quality of life, and Medicine use.

DISCUSSION

Acupressure is not an invasive method and can be done by the patient itself at home. We hope this trial will provide credible evidence to the application of self-acupressure for the management of severe chronic functional constipation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial has been registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000038594).