Nonpharmacological Method and Postpartum Fatigue
Condition: Fatigue
MeSH terms: Fatigue
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Postpartum fatigue is common in women after cesarean section and it affects the woman and the
      baby. Many noninvasive applications help to overcome this problem. This study was planned as
      a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of acupressure on postpartum fatigue in
      women who had a cesarean section. The research will be carried out between August 2021 and
      August 2022 with mothers who have had a cesarean section at Kocaeli University Research and
      Application Hospital. The research will be carried out with two groups as acupressure and
      control group. The sample number was calculated using the G*Power 3.1.9.2 program and the
      acupressure group: 60 and the control group: 60. In order to increase the analysis power, the
      number of people for each group was taken as 65 (n=130). It is planned to collect the data
      with the Descriptive Information Form and the Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue.
      Acupressure will be applied to the mothers in the acupressure group once, once on the post-op
      day 0, twice on the post-op 1. day and once on the post-op 2. day, for a total of 4 times for
      six minutes, and no application will be made to the control group. Fatigue will be assessed
      with the Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue before administration on post-op day 0 and after
      administration on post-op day 2. The data of the research will be evaluated using the
      Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22.0 program. In the evaluation of the data;
      descriptive statistics will be given as percentage, arithmetic mean±standard deviation,
      median and minimum-maximum values. Independent two-sample t-test will be used for normally
      distributed variables, and Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed variables.
      Pearson Correlation test will be applied to determine the relationship between the fatigue
      severity of the experimental group and the tests and to determine the relationship between
      the tests. Statistical significance level will be accepted as p<0.05.
    

Detailed description: 
      Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of acupressure on postpartum fatigue in
      women who had cesarean section.

      Hypotheses:

      H0: There is no difference in fatigue between the acupressure group and the control group in
      women who had cesarean section.

      H1: There is a difference in fatigue between the acupressure group and the control group in
      women who had a cesarean section.

      This study was designed as a randomized controlled experimental study. The study was carried
      out in "Kocaeli University Research and Application Hospital" and "Health Sciences University
      Derince Training and Research Hospital" obstetrics service between August 2021 and August
      2022 planned to be carried out.

      The population of the research will be the mothers who gave birth by cesarean section in
      "Kocaeli Provincial Health Directorate Health Sciences University" and "Health Sciences
      University Derince Training and Research Hospital- Alikahya Campus". To determine the sample
      size in the study, it was calculated based on the study conducted to examine the effect of
      meridian acupressure massage on body composition, edema, stress and fatigue in postpartum
      women. The sample size of the study was calculated using the G*Power 3.1.9.2 program, and the
      mean, standard deviation and sample number values of the fatigue score after the intervention
      in the related article were taken into account in calculating the effect size. The mean and
      standard deviation values of the fatigue score after the intervention in the experimental
      group were 49.95±11.43 and n=19. In the control group, the mean and standard deviation values
      of the fatigue score were 58.55±20.25 and n=20. The effect size was calculated as 0.52 by
      using the mean, standard deviation and sample number values of the related article. 95%
      confidence (1-α), 80% test power (1-β), d=0.52 effect size, the minimum number of samples to
      be taken in each group according to the independent samples t-test result is 60, a total of
      120 cases to be examined. required. In order to increase the analysis power, n=65 will be
      taken for each group in the study (experimental group: 65 and control group: 65). Pregnant
      women in the acupressure group and control group will be stratified in terms of age and
      homogeneous distribution of the groups will be ensured. In which group the women included in
      the study will take place will be determined from the website of the random number generation
      program "Random Team Generator", and they will be divided into two groups. Thus, each woman's
      number and group number will be determined and recorded.

      Introductory Information Form: This form was created by researchers based on the literature.
      The form consists of a total of 18 questions questioning the socio-domographic and obstetric
      characteristics of women and their general health status.

      Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue: The scale consists of 18 items, including fatigue (items
      1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) and energy (items 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). ) consists
      of two sub-dimensions. The scale consists of 10 cm horizontal lines with positive statements
      on one end and negative statements on the other. While the items of the fatigue sub-dimension
      move from positive to negative, the items of the energy sub-dimension are in the opposite
      order. The lowest score obtained in the fatigue sub-dimension is 0, and the highest score is
      130. In the energy sub-dimension, scores are calculated in the range of 0-50 points. The high
      score of the fatigue sub-dimension and the low score of the energy sub-dimension indicate
      that the severity of fatigue increases. In the validity and reliability study of the scale,
      it was reported that the Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficient was 0.9 for the
      13-item fatigue subscale, 0.74 for the 5-item energy subscale, and the correlations between
      all the items of the scale were significantly high. This scale will be used twice for each
      woman. The scale will be applied twice in both groups.Permission was obtained from the author
      for the use of the scale.

      Pre-Application In order to assess whether the questions have been understood, a preliminary
      study will be conducted with five mothers before starting the study. As a result of the
      evaluation, it will be evaluated whether there is a need for editing in the data forms and
      adjustments will be made. Those included in the preliminary study will not be included in the
      sample group.

      Data Collection After obtaining the permissions of the ethics committee and the institution,
      the study can be performed by going to the institutions and performing a cesarean section
      between the first 8-12 hours on the 0th postoperative day. Mothers who are between working
      hours will be welcomed. Mothers who meet the research criteria will be informed about the
      purpose, content and method of the research and those who want to participate in the research
      will be determined.

      After cesarean section for women;

        -  Post-operative between 8-12. hours (1 time),

        -  Post-operative 1st day (2 times),

        -  Acupressure will be applied once on the 2nd post-op day 4 times in total, .

      Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue by women;

        -  Post-operative between 8-12. hours 1 time (before application),

        -  Once on the 2nd post-op day. It will be filled 2 times in total.

      Acupressure Application Technique: A suitable environment will be prepared for mothers in
      terms of warmth and light, where privacy can be protected. The application points will be
      determined with the acu-point device by choosing the most comfortable position for the
      mother, leaving the application points exposed. The most preferred points Stomach (ST) 36,
      Spleen (SP) 6 and Large Intestine (LI4) were selected from the points reported to affect
      lactation by examining the literature on the points to be applied. Acupressure will be
      applied to at all point (bidirectional, right and left) for 2 minutes for a total of 6
      minutes. Light pressure will be applied with the thumb of the practitioner's hand.
      Immediately after applying pressure for 2 minutes for each point, it will be moved to the
      other point in the symmetrical region and the application will be made without interruption.
      While practicing, the researcher will control the time using a digital wrist watch with a
      stopwatch.

      The assistant researcher received acupressure training on 13.05.2021 and the principal
      researcher also has acupressure training.

      Acupressure Application Points:

      ST 36 point: It can also be used for gastrointestinal symptoms such as respiratory distress,
      fatigue, nausea-vomiting, slowing of bowel movements, bloating, loss of appetite, dizziness
      and insomnia. By stimulating the spleen and stomach. the amount of energy going to the lungs
      is increased.

      SP6 poin: This point, which is generally used for urological and pelvic problems, menstrual
      pain and insomnia, is also preferred in various studies to reduce fatigue.

      LI4: Although this area is generally used for face, head and toothache, it is also a
      frequently preferred area to increase alertness and reduce fatigue.

      The data of the study will be evaluated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
      (SPSS) 22.0 program. All data will first be evaluated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for
      conformity to normal distribution, and then analyzed according to conformity to normal
      distribution. For descriptive statistics, percentages will be used in general, arithmetic
      mean±standard deviation for those suitable for normal distribution, median and
      minimum-maximum values for those that do not fit. Comparisons between groups for numerical
      variables of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics will be made with an independent
      two-sample t-test for normally distributed variables, and Mann-Whitney U test for
      non-normally distributed variables. Pearson Correlation test will be applied to determine the
      relationship between the fatigue severity of the experimental group and the tests and to
      determine the relationship between the tests. Statistical significance level will be accepted
      as p<0.05.
    

Intervention name(s): acupressure group; Control Group
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): A suitable environment will be prepared for mothers in terms of warmth and light, where privacy can be protected. The application points will be determined with the acu-point device by choosing the most comfortable position of the mother, leaving the application points exposed. The most preferred points ST36, LI4 and SP6 were selected from the points reported to affect lactation by reviewing the literature on the points to be compressed. Acupressure will be applied to points (bidirectional, right and left) for 2 minutes for a total of 6 minutes. Light pressure will be applied with the thumb of the practitioner's hand. Immediately after applying pressure for 2 minutes for each point, it will be moved to the other point in the symmetrical region and the application will be made without interruption. While practicing, the researcher will control the time using a digital wrist watch with a stopwatch; No application will be made. The mothers in this group will fill in the Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue twice, once between 8-12 hours post-op and once on the post-op 2nd day.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: postpartum fatigue; postpartum; fatigue; acupressure