The opinions of pregnant women about labor and acupressure application who received acupressure on their SP6 points

Objective: The research was a randomized controlled study aimed to determine the views regarding acupressure application and labor of the pregnant women who received acupressure on their SP6 acupuncture points during labor. Method: 100 pregnant women, 50 in the experimental group and 50 in the control group, meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the research between July 2009 and April 2010 at Trabzon Maternal Hospital. Pregnancy Identification Forms were administered to the pregnant women after providing them with information about the trial during the latent phase of labor and their approvals were obtained. Both groups received standard nursing care during labor and during the first phase of labor the experimental group received acupressure application 35 times in total; 15, 10, and 10 times (throughout contraction) while cervical dilatation was 2-3 cm, 5-6 cm and 9-10 cm wide respectively. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to determine pain perception at the end of each application. In the early postpartum period, both groups were applied VAS and Final Interview Form and the experimental group was also applied "Questionnaire on Acupressure Application". Results: The women who received acupressure application were found to have more positive experiences and perceptions regarding labor and were very/quite pleased (78.0%) with acupressure application (p<0.001). Moreover, control group (except for the transition phase) perceived pain more severely than the acupressure group (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was determined that acupressure had a positive effect on women's labor and increased women's satisfaction by reducing pain.