Table 4.

Comprehensive efficacy and subgroup analysis of acupuncture intervention in post-operative nausea and vomiting prevention and treatment, mean ± SD/n (%)

Assessment indicators	Acupuncture group (n = 120)	Control group (n = 120)	Statistics value	P value
Symptom severity analysis
PONV VAS score, points	2.7 ± 1.4	4.5 ± 1.8	t = 8.456	< 0.01
Relative improvement	40.0
Mild symptoms (VAS 1-3)	92 (76.5)	42 (35.1)	χ² = 41.832	< 0.01
Time effect analysis
Time to first PONV onset, hours	8.4 ± 2.1	4.2 ± 1.5	t = 17.429	< 0.01
Symptom-free period extension (hours)	4.2
Extension effect	100.0
Symptom-free patients
Symptom-free patients within 6 hours post-op	81 (67.6)	34 (28.1)	χ² = 37.842	< 0.01
Symptom duration analysis
Average duration, hours	2.8 ± 1.6	4.7 ± 2.3	t = 7.321	< 0.01
Reduction rate	40.4
Rescue medication usage analysis
Rescue antiemetic medication usage	22 (18.3)	43 (35.8)	χ² = 9.524	< 0.01
Age stratification analysis
≤ 45 years group reduction rate	23.5			< 0.05
> 45 years group reduction rate	16.8			< 0.05

PONV: Post-operative nausea and vomiting; VAS: Visual analogue scale.