OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of acupoint pressure therapy on relieving labor pain in primiparas.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty primiparas were randomized into an observation group (60 cases) and a control group (60 cases). In the observation group, Hegu (LI 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), Neiguan (PC 6), Ciliao (BL 32) and Zhongliao (BL 33) on bilateral sides were selected. The acupoint pressure therapy was applied when the uterine orifice was dilated to 2 to 3 cm. In the control group, the acupoint pressure therapy was not used. Separately, when the orifice was dilated as 2 to 3 cm, 5 to 6 cm, 7 to 8 cm and 9 to 10 cm, the pain response grade was assessed (including physician's analgesia score and patient's self-evaluation score of analge-sia). The in labor pain was observed and compared in the puerperas between the two groups. The time of the first, second and third stages of labor, the time of total stage of labor as well as the cesarean section rate were compared in the puerperas between the two groups.

RESULTS(1) Analgesic effect:when the uterine orifice was dilated as 2 to 3 cm, 5 to 6 cm, 7 to 8 cm and 9 to 10 cm, the self-evaluation scores of analgesia in the puerperas of the observation group at each time point were all apparently lower than those in the control groups (all<0.05). In the observation group, for the physician's analgesia score, 213 person-times presented analgesic effect and 18 person-times no effect. In the control group, 178 person-times presented analgesic effect and 44 person-times no effect. The analgesic effect in the observation group was better than that in the control group (<0.05). (2) Stages of labor:the differences in the second and third stages of labor were not significant statistically between the two groups (both>0.05). The time of the first stage of labor and the time of the total stages of labor in the observation group were shorter appa-rently than those in the control group[(8.07±2.08)h vs (9.58±2.79)h, (8.91±2.80)h vs (10.51±2.83)h, both<0.05]. (3) Cesarean section rate:the cesarean section rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group[5.0% (3/60) vs 10.0% (6/60),>0.05].

CONCLUSIONSAcupoint pressure therapy has definite efficacy on relieving labor pain. It shortens the stages of labor and cesarean section rate.