Reducing Labor Anxiety with Auriculotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on reducing labor anxiety. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 166 nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Labor Ward of Izadi Hospital in Qom, Iran were included and assigned to two groups by randomized block design. In the intervention group (83 cases), auriculotherapy in "Shenmen, Thalamic, Zero, Brain, and Brain stem" was performed in dilatations of 4, 6 and 8 cm, between the contractions for 30 s in both ears at interval 1 h. While the control group received routine care. The Spielberger Inventory were completed pre- and post-interventions. RESULTS: The auriculotherapy was effective to reduce anxiety state in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). The score of state anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 7.0, 8.0 and 11.0 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. The score of trait anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 3.8, 4.0 and 8.3 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. There was no significant difference of delivery mode and newborns' weight and Apgar score between groups (P>0.05). No adverse postpartum outcome such as hemorrhage has been observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: Since most women are anxious during labor, it seems that auriculotherapy can be an easy and safe method to reduce labor anxiety. (Trial registration No. irct20121230011944n4).

Comparison of effect of auriculotherapy and mefenamic acid on the severity and systemic symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is the most common complaint in young women and adolescents. Side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can limit their use. Therefore, non-pharmacological pain relief methods such as auriculotherapy may play an important role in PD management. This study was conducted to compare the effect of auriculotherapy and mefenamic acid on the severity and systemic symptoms of PD. METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial, 83 students were randomized into two groups. In the auriculotherapy group, electrical stimulation of the ear was conducted once a week for two menstrual cycles. In each cycle close to menstruation, ear seeds were inserted on pressure points to be pressed in times of pain. In the mefenamic acid group, subjects took mefenamic acid capsules upon seeing the initial symptoms of menstruation until the pain reduces. The primary outcomes were mean pain intensity and systemic symptoms associated with it. Pain intensity was measured through the visual analog scale (VAS) and the verbal multidimensional scoring system (VMS). Systemic symptoms were assessed using VMS, as well as the yes/no question form. RESULTS: Mean pain intensity with the VAS was significantly lower in the auriculotherapy group than the mefenamic acid group in the first and second cycles of intervention. There was a significant difference in VMS grade between both groups during the second cycle of intervention. In terms of the systemic symptoms in the second cycle of intervention, no subjects had dysmenorrhea grade 3 (common systemic symptoms) in the auriculotherapy group. Whereas in the mefenamic acid group, 16.7% of the subjects still had dysmenorrhea grade 3. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of systemic symptoms of PD. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of fatigue and diarrhea in both groups. However, there was a significant reduction in the frequency of nausea, headache, and anger in the auriculotherapy group. CONCLUSION: Mean pain intensity with the VAS was lower with the auriculotherapy. Also, 65.9% of auriculotherapy group subjects were in the dysmenorrhea grades 0 and 1. Therefore, auriculotherapy is recommended because of its fewer complications and more effect on PD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT20181207041873N1. Registered on February 24, 2019. https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/35967/view.