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. 2014 Mar 19;2014:1405.
Ref (type) Population Outcome, Interventions Results and statistical analysis Effect size Favours
Nausea

RCT
3-armed trial
60 women, mean gestational age ranged from 9.6–10.8 weeks
In review
Mean nausea score assessed on visual analogue scale (0 = no nausea, 10 = extreme nausea) 1 day post treatment commencement
5.2 with P6 wristband acupressure for 2 weeks
5.6 with placebo wristband acupressure on upper surface of wrist for 2 weeks
7.6 with no treatment

P = 0.002 acupressure v no treatment
P6 acupressure

RCT
3-armed trial
60 women, mean gestational age ranged from 9.6–10.8 weeks
In review
Mean nausea score assessed on visual analogue scale (0 = no nausea, 10 = extreme nausea) 3–6 days
5.6–4.9 with P6 wristband acupressure for 2 weeks
5.5–6.3 with placebo wristband acupressure on upper surface of wrist for 2 weeks

P = 0.013
P6 acupressure

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median nausea score assessed on 10 cm visual analogue scale (0 = lack of nausea, 10 = severe nausea) 1 day
7 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
7 with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P = 0.473
Not significant

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median nausea score assessed on 10 cm visual analogue scale (0 = lack of nausea, 10 = severe nausea) 2 days
6 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
7 with with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P = 0.012
acupressure

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median nausea score assessed on 10 cm visual analogue scale (0 = lack of nausea, 10 = severe nausea) 3 days
5 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
7 with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P <0.001
acupressure

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median nausea score assessed on 10 cm visual analogue scale (0 = lack of nausea, 10 = severe nausea) 4 days
4 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
7 with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P <0.001
acupressure
Vomiting

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median frequency of vomiting 1 day
1 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
1 with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P = 0.012
acupressure

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median frequency of vomiting 2 days
0 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
1 with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P = 0.003
acupressure

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median frequency of vomiting 3 days
0 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
1 with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P = 0.001
acupressure

RCT
80 pregnant women within the first trimester with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting Median frequency of vomiting 4 days
0 with acupressure at KID21 point applied for 4 consecutive days
1 with sham acupressure (non-acupuncture point) applied for 4 consecutive days

P <0.001
acupressure
Nausea and vomiting (composite)

RCT
97 women, 8–12 weeks' gestation
In review
Mean change from baseline in hours of nausea and vomiting 12 days
–2.74 with active wristband acupressure
–0.85 with sham wristband acupressure

MD 1.89
95% CI 0.33 to 3.45
P = 0.018
Effect size not calculated active wristband acupressure

RCT
97 women, 8–12 weeks' gestation
In review
Mean change from baseline in nausea and vomiting assessed on visual analogue scale 12 days
–0.50 with active wristband acupressure
–0.25 with sham wristband acupressure

MD +0.25
95% CI –0.12 to +0.62
Not significant

Systematic review
97 women, 8–12 weeks' gestation
Data from 1 RCT
Proportion of participants reporting no improvement in intensity of symptoms
15/53 (28%) with active wristband acupressure
16/44 (36%) with sham wristband acupressure

RR 0.78
95% CI 0.44 to 1.39
P = 0.40
Not significant

RCT
98 pregnant women, <14 weeks' gestation, with symptoms of nausea and vomiting
In review
Mean Rhodes Index Scale day 4
8.7 with bilateral auricular acupressure (to the concha ridge zone of the inner auricle surface for 30 seconds 4 times a day on days 3–6)
10.6 with no treatment

P = 0.387
Not significant

RCT
98 pregnant women, <14 weeks' gestation, with symptoms of nausea and vomiting
In review
Mean Rhodes Index Scale day 5
8.0 with bilateral auricular acupressure (to the concha ridge zone of the inner auricle surface for 30 seconds 4 times a day on days 3–6)
11.6 with no treatment

P = 0.274
Not significant

RCT
98 pregnant women, <14 weeks' gestation, with symptoms of nausea and vomiting
In review
Mean Rhodes Index Scale day 6
7.7 with bilateral auricular acupressure (to the concha ridge zone of the inner auricle surface for 30 seconds 4 times a day on days 3–6)
11.3 with no treatment

P = 0.252
Not significant