Intervention Review

Acupuncture for induction of labour

  1. Caroline A Smith1,*,
  2. Caroline A Crowther2

Editorial Group: Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group

Published Online: 21 JAN 2009

Assessed as up-to-date: 30 JAN 2008

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002962.pub2

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Smith CA, Crowther CA. Acupuncture for induction of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD002962. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002962.pub2.

Author Information

  1. 1

    The University of Western Sydney, Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, Penrith South DC, New South Wales, Australia

  2. 2

    The University of Adelaide, ARCH: Australian Research Centre for Health of Women and Babies, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

*Caroline A Smith, Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, The University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, New South Wales, 1797, Australia. caroline.smith@uws.edu.au.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: Edited (no change to conclusions)
  2. Published Online: 21 JAN 2009

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Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Background

This is one of a series of reviews of methods of cervical ripening and labour induction using standardised methodology. The use of complementary therapies is increasing and some women look to complementary therapies during pregnancy and childbirth to be used alongside conventional medical practice. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body. The limited observational studies to date suggest acupuncture for induction of labour appears safe, has no known teratogenic effects, and may be effective. The evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of this technique is limited.

Objectives

To determine the effects of acupuncture for third trimester cervical ripening or induction of labour.

Search methods

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (January 2008), the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field's Trials Register (The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 4), AMED (1985 to November 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to November 2007), EMBASE (1980 to November 2007), Dissertation Abstracts (1861 to November 2007), CINAHL (1982 to November 2007), the UK National Research Register, (November 2007) and the Australian Clinical Trials Registry (November 2007) and bibliographies of relevant papers.

Selection criteria

Clinical trials comparing acupuncture used for third trimester cervical ripening or labour induction with placebo/no treatment or other methods listed above it on a predefined list of labour induction methods.

Data collection and analysis

A strategy was developed to deal with the large volume and complexity of trial data relating to labour induction. This involved a two-stage method of data extraction.

Main results

Three trials (212 women) were included in the review.  Fewer women receiving acupuncture required use of induction methods (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.95) compared with standard care (147 women, relative risk 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.95). There were no differences between groups in the reporting of other outcomes.

Authors' conclusions

There is a need for well-designed randomised controlled trials to evaluate the role of acupuncture to induce labour and for trials to assess clinically meaningful outcomes.

 

Plain language summary

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Acupuncture for induction of labour

There is insufficient evidence describing the efficacy of acupuncture to induce labour.

Induction of labour (getting labour started artificially) is common when the pregnancy is posing a greater risk to the pregnant woman or her unborn child. Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into specific energy points of the body and has been used to help induce labour and reduce labour pains. The review included three trials involving 212 women. The evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of this technique is limited, although small studies suggest women receiving acupuncture compared to standard obstetric care received fewer methods of induction. More research is needed.

 

摘要

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

背景

針灸用於引產

這是使用標準方法來回顧子宮頸軟化和引產方式的系列之一。輔助療式的使用增加，有些婦女在懷孕和分娩期間，尋求以輔助治療和傳統醫療實務併用。針灸是將很細的針插入身體的特定穴位。迄今有限的觀察型研究認為，針灸引產似乎是安全的，沒有致畸胎，而且是有效的。此一技術的臨床效果之證據有限。

目標

確認針灸用於第3懷孕期之子宮頸軟化或引產的效果。

搜尋策略

我們搜尋了Cochrane Pregnancy和Childbirth Group's Trials Register (2008年1月)、Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field's Trials Register (The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 4)、AMED (1985年2007年11月)、MEDLINE (1966年2007年11月)、EMBASE (1980年2007年11月)、Dissertation Abstracts (1861年2007年11月)、CINAHL (1982年2007年11月)、UK National Research Register(2007年11月)以及Australian Clinical Trials Registry (2007年11月)等資料庫和相關論文的參考文獻。

選擇標準

納入針灸用於懷孕第3期使子宮頸軟化或引產，和安慰劑/無治療、或其他列於預先定義之引產方法比較的臨床試驗。

資料收集與分析

發展一套策略用以處理與引產有關的大量且複雜之試驗資料，此策略包括2階段方法來摘錄資料。

主要結論

納入回顧的有3篇試驗(212名婦女)。相較於標準照護者(147名婦女)，接受針灸的婦女較少需要使用引產方法(RR為1.45, 95% CI為1.0 1.95)。兩組的其他結果報告沒有差異。

作者結論

需要設計良好的隨機控制試驗來評估針灸引產的角色，也需要試驗來評估有臨床上有意義的結果。

翻譯人

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院(National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan)統籌。

總結

針灸用於引產。 描述針灸用於引產的效果的證據不足。 當孕婦或其胎兒楚於較大的風險時，引產(以人工方式誘導開始生產)是很常見的處置方法。針灸是將很細的針插入身體的特定穴位，用來幫助引產和減輕生產疼痛。本次回顧3篇試驗、212名婦女。有關此技術的臨床效果的證據有限，雖然有小型研究認為，相較於標準產科照護的婦女，接受針灸的婦女較少使用引產方法。還需要更多研究。

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