COMPARISON OF K-K9 AND P6 POINTS ACUPRESSURE ON NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN THE FIRST HALF OF PREGNANCY.

Nausea and vomiting are common complaints in early pregnancy. The Chinese acupuncture point P6 and the Korean hand acupressure point K-K9 were noted for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. The aim of this study was to compare K-K9 and P6 points acupressure on nausea and vomiting in the first half of pregnancy.

Materials & Methods: This clinical trial study covered 99 pregnant women that were randomly divided into three groups: 33 women in the K-K9 group, 33 women in P6 group, and 33 women in the sham group. The study occurred in three sequences and over a ten-day period and the average total degree of nausea and vomiting was measured in three sequences by Rhodes index. During days 1-3, no intervention was done. During days 4-7, the K-K9 and the shame groups received acupressure seed and the P6 group had sea-band. During days 8-10 no intervention was used. The data were analyzed by ANOVA-Test, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square.

Result: There was a significant difference in the average total degree of nausea during (p=0/004) and after (p=0/001) intervention, in the average total degree of vomiting during (p=0/000) and after (p=0/003) intervention and in the average total degree of retching during (p=0/009) and after (p=0/001) intervention between groups

Conclusion: Acupressure on K-K9 is more effective in decreasing nausea. However, acupressure on K-K9and P6 point on the first half of pregnancy have same effect on reduction of vomiting and retching on the first half of pregnancy. Acupressure is a method for reduction of nausea and vomiting with no side-effect, and can easily be instructed to patients