Effects of SP6 acupressure on labor pain and length of delivery time in women during labor

METHODS: Seventy-five women in labor were randomly assigned to either the SP6 acupressure or SP6 touch control group. The participants were matched according to parity, cervical dilation, labor stage, rupture of amniotic membrane, and husband\'s presence during labor. There were no additional oxytocin augmentation or administration of analgesics during the study period. Labor pain was measured four times using a structured questionnaire, a subjective labor pain scale before intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 30 and 60 minutes after the intervention. Length of delivery time was calculated in two stages: from 3 cm cervical dilation to full cervical dilatation, and full cervical dilatation to the delivery. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the groups in subjective labor pain scores at all time points following the intervention: immediately after the intervention; 30 minutes after the intervention; and 60 minutes after the intervention. The total labor time was significantly shorter in the SP6 acupressure intervention group than in the control group.