JCNRJournal of Clinical and Nursing Research2208-36852208-3693Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.10.26689/jcnr.v8i5.6814ArticleThe Effects of Acupressure on Vomiting, Stress, and Anxiety in Chinese Pregnant Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarumhttps://artdesignp.com/journal/JCNR/8/5/10.26689/jcnr.v8i5.6814JiangWenyuan,Esther O. Dela Cruz2024852024-06-21Objective: To investigate the role of acupressure therapy in helping pregnant women with HG reduce the frequency or severity of vomiting and relieve stress and anxiety. Method: A quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design and non-equivalent group design was used. Sixty-six valid data points were obtained from pregnant mothers diagnosed with HG in a general hospital in Linyi City. These pregnant women received either acupressure (n = 33) or general therapeutic care (n = 33). They completed standardized questionnaires designed to assess vomiting, anxiety, and stress levels. Results: Data showed no differences between the experimental and control groups before the intervention. After the intervention, there were significant differences in anxiety (P ≤ 0.05) and stress (P ≤ 0.05) scores between the two groups. However, there was no significant difference in vomiting scores (P > 0.05) between the two groups after the intervention. The anxiety and stress scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group post-intervention, while the vomiting scores of the two groups were similar. Conclusion: The findings suggest that acupressure significantly reduces anxiety and stress in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and also helps reduce vomiting. Acupressure presents a viable clinical option for pregnant women seeking relief from HG symptoms.

Gu CL, 2017, What to Do About Severe Morning Sickness. Family Medicine (Second Half of the Month), 2017(5): 30–31.

Xia QW, Zhang W, Cheng YH, 2022, Analysis of Related Risk Factors and Perinatal Outcome of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Modern Practical Medicine, 2022(7): 34.

Zhuang JC, 2023, Effects of Comprehensive Nursing on Psychological and Clinical Symptoms of Patients with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Chinese Urban and Rural Enterprise Health, 38(5): 196–198.

Matthews A, Haas DM, O’Mathúna DP, et al., 2015, Interventions for Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(9): CD007575. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007575.pub4

Maina A, Arrotta M, Cicogna L, et al., 2014, Transdermal Clonidine in the Treatment of Severe Hyperemesis. A Pilot Randomised Control Trial: CLONEMESI. BJOG, 121(12): 1556–1562. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.12757

Xue Q, Wang Y, Wang F, 2021, Analysis of Clinical Effect and Psychological Intervention Value of Intravenous Hypernutrition in the Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Journal of Psychology, 16(20): 204–206.

Zhang GA, 2019, Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Chiropractic Combined with Acupoint Massage in Patients with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Guangming Chinese Medicine, 35(12): 1859–1861.

Yuan HJ, Gao P, Liu JL, 2018, Investigation on the Status Quo of Doctor-Patient Communication in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Its Improvement Strategy. Journal of Kunming University of Science and Technology (Social Science Edition), 2018(1): 32–38.

Adlan A-S, Chooi KY, Mat Adenan NA, 2017, Acupressure as Adjuvant Treatment for the Inpatient Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 43(4): 662–668. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.13269

Negarandeh R, Eghbali M, Janani L, et al., 2020, Auriculotherapy as a Means of Managing Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 40: 101177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101177

Hu R, Zeng Z, Si X, 2017, The Effect of Five-Tone Therapy Combined with Auricular Point Sticking in the Treatment of Pregnancy Obstruction. China Medical Review, 14(33): 157–160.

World Health Organization (WHO), 2004, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium (O00-O99), viewed March 28, 2023, https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en#/XV

Dørheim SK, Bjorvatn B, Eberhard-Gran M, 2013, Sick Leave During Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study of Rates and Risk Factors in a Norwegian population. BJOG, 120(5): 521–530. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.12035

Grooten IJ, Roseboom TJ, Painter RC, 2015, Barriers and Challenges in Hyperemesis Gravidarum Research. Nutr Metab Insights, 8(Suppl1): 33–39. https://doi.org/10.4137/nmi.s29523

Power Z, Thomson AM, Waterman H, 2010, Understanding the Stigma of Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Qualitative Findings From an Action Research Study. Birth, 37(3): 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2010.00411.x

Christodoulou-Smith J, Gold JI, Romero R, et al., 2011, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Following Pregnancy Complicated by Hyperemesis Gravidarum. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 24(11): 1307–1311. https://doi.org/10.3109/14767058.2011.582904

Mullin PM, Bray A, Schoenberg F, et al., 2011, Prenatal Exposure to Hyperemesis Gravidarum Linked to Increased Risk of Psychological and Behavioral Disorders in Adulthood. J Dev Orig Health Dis, 2(4): 200–204. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174411000249

Annagur BB, Tazegul A, Gunduz S, 2013, Do Psychiatric Disorders Continue During Pregnancy in Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Prospective Study. Gen Hosp Psychiat, 35(5): 492–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2013.05.008

Suryani IM, Yuli Suryanti M, 2021, The Effect of Acupressure Therapy in Reducing Nausea and Vomiting Pregnant Women Trimester I: Quasi-Experimental Study. NSC Nursing, 2021. https://doi.org/10.32549/OPI-NSC-57

Xu DH, 2023, Clinical Observation of Acupoint Application of Chinese Medicine in Treatment of 68 Cases of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Frontiers in Medicine, 2013(36): 363–364.

Mitchell-Jones N, Lawson K, Bobdiwala S, et al., 2020, Association Between Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Psychological Symptoms, Psychosocial Outcomes and Infant Bonding: A Two-Point Prospective Case-Control Multicentre Survey Study in an Inner City Setting. BMJ Open, 10(10): e039715. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039715

Mohd Nafiah NA, Chieng WK, Zainuddin AA, et al., 2022, Effect of Acupressure at P6 on Nausea and Vomiting in Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(17): 10886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph191710886

Liu FF, 2019, Application Effect of Acupressure Combined with Emotional Nursing on Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Journal of Electrocardiogram (Electronic Edition), 8(3): 2.

American Psychological Association, 2021, Anxiety, viewed March 28, 2023, https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety

Mental Health America, 2013, Stress, viewed March 28, 2023, https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/stress

Pritha B, 2020, An Introduction to Quantitative Research, viewed March 28, 2023, https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/quantitative-research/

Bevans R, 2019, A Guide to Experimental Design, viewed March 28, 2023, https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/experimental-design/

Thomas L, 2020, An Introduction to Quasi-Experimental Designs, viewed March 28, 2023, https://www.scribbr.com/ methodology/quasi-experimental-design/

Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R, 1983, A Global Measure of Perceived Stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4): 385–396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404

Koren G, Piwko C, Ahn E, et al., 2005, Validation Studies of the Pregnancy Unique-Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) Scores. J Obstet Gynaecol, 25(3): 241–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443610500060651

Lacasse A, Rey E, Ferreira E, et al., 2008, Validity of a Modified Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) Scoring Index to Assess Severity of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 198(1): 71.e1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2007.05.051

National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2006, Routine & Technical Operation Regulation of Nursing Care in TCM, viewed March 28, 2023, https://www.cacm.org.cn/2008/10/13/4664/

Long S, Yang Y, Xiao D, et al., 2020, The Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Massage Plus Music Therapy on Sleep Quality of Advanced Pregnancy Women. Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine, 12(28): 57–60.

Yang HO, 2016, Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum with Spleen and Stomach Weakness by Acupoint Application and Rehydration. Journal of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 32(6): 1249–1251.

Pirimoglu ZM, Guzelmeric K, Alpay B, et al., 2010, Psychological Factors of Hyperemesis Gravidarum by Using the SCL-90-R Questionnaire. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol, 37(1): 56–59.

Pasha H, Behmanesh F, Mohsenzadeh F, et al., 2012, Study of the Effect of Mint Oil on Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy. Iran Red Crescent Med J, 14(11): 727–730. https://doi.org/10.5812/ircmj.3477

Zeng LX, Zhuang QZ, 2023, Effect of Emotional Nursing Combined with Acupoint Application on Quality of Life in Patients with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Chinese Medicine Guidelines, 2023(10): 22–25.