Efficacy of P6 acupressure in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. A randomized controlled trial of smoking cessation intervention in pregnancy in an academic clinic.
Our purpose was to investigate the efficacy of P6 acupressure in reducing or relieving symptoms of nausea with or without vomiting and retching during pregnancy.
                Symptomatic pregnant volunteers (n=161) participated in a 7-day community-based clinical trial. All participants were assigned to one of three groups (i.e., P6 acupressure, placebo [acupressure bands inappropriately placed], or control) on the basis of a process of blocked randomization. Data were analyzed by error bar charts and analysis of variance of difference scores.
                Of 161 women, 149 (92.5%) completed the protocol. Irrespective of group assignment, participants reported significant decreases in nausea (p<0.0009) and vomiting or retching (p<0.0009). However, there was no differential treatment effect as a result of acupressure.
                There was no apparent medical benefit from the use of P6 acupressure. Our findings differ from other recently published studies that did not include a control group. To evaluate the effectiveness of a physician-based intervention to promote smoking cessation during pregnancy, we conducted this randomized controlled trial in the resident-staffed prenatal clinics at the University of North Carolina Women's Hospital . Two hundred fifty prenatal patients who smoked were enrolled at their first visit and randomly assigned to the intervention or the usual-care group. Resident physicians provided self-help materials to intervention subjects and used a script to set goals with them at each prenatal visit. Subjects who set quit dates were contacted by volunteer cessation counselors. To verify smoking status, subjects provided a self-report and breath carbon monoxide (CO) sample at each visit. Controls were similarly assessed at enrollment and at three additional predetermined intervals. Twenty percent of intervention subjects and 10% of controls reported cessation, which was verified by CO level (P = .052). Fifty-one percent of subjects reduced their consumption by half or more, compared with 30% of controls (P = .002). The intervention is effective in promoting smoking cessation and reduction. In addition, this technique is inexpensive, readily accepted by staff, and efficient.
There was little information to draw conclusions on the overall effectiveness of interventions to relieve heartburn in pregnancy.
[Note: the two citations in the awaiting classification section of the review may alter the conclusions of the review once assessed.]