Acupuncture With Manual and Electrical Stimulation to Reduce Labour Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Labour Pain
• Interventions: Device: Manual Acupuncture; Device: Electro Acupuncture

• Registration Number: NCT01197950
• Lead Sponsor: University of Skövde

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of manual acupuncture and electro-acupuncture on labour pain.

Detailed Description

Acupuncture is used in obstetric care in spite of insufficient evidence of its potential to reduce labour pain. The findings so far are contradictory, which may reflect methodological limitations. The present study will take issues into account, such as sufficiently large sample to allow detection of possible differences between study groups; optimal timing of the intervention; controlling for intensity of the treatment; qualified training of persons giving the treatment; biological markers of pain and stress; possible effects on mother and infant; women's experiences such as overall birth experience and memory of pain.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-10
• Study First Submitted: 2010-08-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-09-07
• Study First Posted: 2010-09-09
• Primary Completion: 2011-08
• Study Completion: 2011-11
• Results First Submitted: 2020-04-25
• Results First Submitted QC: 2022-06-03
• Results First Posted: 2022-06-06
• Status Verified: 2022-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-09-07
• Last Update Posted: 2022-09-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 303

Inclusion Criteria

• Admission to the labour ward in spontaneous onset of labour
• Latent or active phase of labour
• Nulliparity
• Singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation
• Gestation: 37+0 to 41+6 (weeks + days)
• Expressed need for labour pain relief
• Swedish speaking (well enough to understand written and oral instructions)

Exclusion Criteria

• No pharmacological pain relief within 24 hours prior to inclusion into the study
• Severe preeclampsia
• Treatment with oxytocin at the time point of allocation
• Treatment with anticoagulant
• Pacemaker

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Manual Acupuncture	Manual Acupuncture	Manual stimulation
Electro Acupuncture	Electro Acupuncture	Electrical and manual stimulation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Use of Epidural Analgesia	From start of treatment until birth	Frequecy of epidural analgesia

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

School of Life Sciences, University of Skövde; 🇸🇪 Skövde, Sweden