Postoperative PainNCT07805720
Acupressure for Pain and Anxiety After Cesarean Section
A study testing Acupressure in people with Postoperative Pain and Postpartum Anxiety, run by University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City at 1 site in Vietnam.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether acupressure combined with standard post-operative modern medical care can reduce pain and anxiety in postpartum women after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Postoperative Pain, Postpartum Anxiety, Acupressure
- What is being tested?
- Acupressure
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteVietnam
- Study dates
- 25 Apr 2026to 10 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Postpartum women aged 18 years or older who have undergone cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia.
- Gestational age >= 37 weeks.
- Willing to participate and signing the written informed consent form.
Who cannot join
- General anesthesia or methods other than spinal anesthesia.
- Hearing, vision, or speech impairment.
- History of chronic diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes, severe hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or psychiatric disorders.
- Diagnosed with chronic pain before surgery, or regular use of pain medications.
- Opioid, alcohol addiction or dependence.
- Pathological cesarean deliveries (placenta praevia, placental abruption, placenta accreta).
Show all 10Show fewer
- Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.).
- Post-operative complications (wound infection, hemorrhage, coagulation disorders, or loss of the child).
- Severe postpartum urinary retention requiring urinary catheterization.
- Refusing to participate.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Vietnam1 site
Tien Giang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital
Mỹ Tho, Tien Giang
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of Acupressure in Reducing Postoperative Pain and Anxiety Among Post-Cesarean Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether acupressure combined with standard post-operative modern medical care can reduce pain and anxiety in postpartum women after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does acupressure combined with standard care reduce post-cesarean pain more effectively than sham acupressure with standard care?
- Does the combined approach reduce post-cesarean anxiety levels more effectively than sham acupressure with standard care?
- What adverse effects may occur in participants receiving acupressure? Researchers will compare acupressure combined with standard care to sham acupressure combined with standard care to determine whether the active intervention provides additional benefits.
Read more
Participants will:
- Receive acupressure (or sham acupressure at non-therapeutic points) for 3 days.
- Receive standard post-operative modern medical pain management and care as prescribed by the hospital.
- Be assessed for pain (VAS-P) and anxiety (VAS-A, STAI-Y1) at baseline (before intervention) and after 3 days of intervention.
Read the detailed description
This randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupressure combined with standard modern care in postpartum women with pain and anxiety following cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.
Participants who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group ( acupressure plus standard modern care) or the control group (sham acupressure plus standard modern care).
In the intervention group, participants will receive manual acupressure (using xoa, day, and an techniques) on three bilateral therapeutic points: Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6). Before applying pressure, the surrounding tissue is rubbed (xoa) with the palm for 20-30 seconds. Then, the points are pressed (an) for 5 seconds at a depth of 1-1.5 cm, kneaded (day) for 5 seconds, and rested for 5 seconds, repeating this cycle for 2 minutes per point. The total duration is 15 minutes for 6 points, performed once daily for 3 consecutive days.
In the control group, participants will receive sham acupressure (xoa, day, an) at identical frequencies and durations on 3 non-therapeutic sham points: Sham Hegu, Sham Neiguan, and Sham Sanyinjiao.
Both groups will receive standard post-operative modern pain management as prescribed by the hospital's obstetricians, which includes:
- Post-op Day 1: Paracetamol 1g IV q6-8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h;
- Post-op Day 2 onwards: Paracetamol 1g PO q8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h or other NSAIDs (such as Diclofenac 50mg, Ibuprofen 600-1200mg/day, Paracetamol + Ibuprofen, or Paracetamol + Tramadol) as prescribed by the hospital.
Outcomes including pain (VAS-P), anxiety (VAS-A, STAI-Y1), and any adverse events will be assessed at baseline (T1, pre-intervention) and after 3 days of intervention (T2).
- Conditions
- Postoperative Pain, Postpartum Anxiety, Acupressure
- Being tested
- Acupressure, Sham Acupressure, Standard care
- Keywords
- Acupressure, Cesarean Section, Anxiety, Postoperative Pain, LI4, PC6, SP6
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AcupressureProcedure or surgery
Manual massage and acupressure using techniques of rubbing (xoa) for 20-30 seconds, followed by pressing (an) for 5 seconds, kneading (day) for 5 seconds, and resting for 5 seconds, repeating for 2 minutes per point. A total of 15 minutes for 6 bilateral points (Hegu [LI4], Neiguan [PC6], Sanyinjiao [SP6]) will be performed once daily for 3 consecutive days. All procedures will be performed by a licensed traditional medicine physician following standardized protocols.
Sham AcupressureProcedure or surgery
Sham acupressure using identical techniques (xoa, day, an), duration (3 days), and instructions at 3 bilateral non-therapeutic points: Sham Hegu (on the back of the hand, 1 thon from the midpoint between index and middle fingers), Sham Neiguan (inner forearm, 2 thon from wrist crease and 1.5 thon towards the radial side), and Sham Sanyinjiao (3 thon above the medial malleolus, then 1.5 thon posterior on the Achilles tendon). All procedures will be performed by a licensed traditional medicine physician.
Standard careBehavioural
Standard post-operative modern pain management of the hospital: Post-op Day 1: Paracetamol 1g IV q6-8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h; Post-op Day 2 onwards: Paracetamol 1g PO q8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h or other NSAIDs as prescribed.
Standard careBehavioural
Standard post-operative modern pain management of the hospital (identical to the experimental arm).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Real Acupressure + Standard Care | Experimental | Participants receive real acupressure at Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points for 15 minutes daily over 3 consecutive days post-cesarean section, combined with standard modern medical care. Receives: Procedure: Acupressure; Behavioral: Standard care |
| Sham Acupressure + standard care | Sham comparator | Participants receive sham acupressure at non-acupoints for 15 minutes daily over 3 consecutive days post-cesarean section, combined with standard modern medical care. Receives: Procedure: Sham Acupressure; Behavioral: Standard care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in pain score (Visual Analog Scale for Pain, VAS-P)
Pain is assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS-P) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Measured: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in anxiety score (Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety, VAS-A)
Anxiety will be assessed using a 10cm Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A), where 0 indicates no anxiety and 10 indicates extreme anxiety.
Measured: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Change in state anxiety score (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State scale, STAI-Y1)
State anxiety will be measured using the 20-item STAI-Y1 questionnaire (scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating higher anxiety).
Measured: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Incidence of adverse events related to the intervention
All adverse events (e.g., pain at site, fatigue, bruising, internal bleeding, nerve injury) will be recorded throughout the study period.
Measured: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Sep 2026
- Study start25 Apr 2026
- Primary completion10 May 2026
- Study completion10 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Postoperative PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh CityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Truong Dieu Huong, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
- Investigators
- Dieu Huong Truong, Principal investigator, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07805720
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 608/DHYD-HDDD
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Acupressure in Reducing Postoperative Pain and Anxiety Among Post-Cesarean Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07805720
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 608/DHYD-HDDD
- Conditions
- Postoperative Pain, Postpartum Anxiety, Acupressure
- Keywords
- Acupressure, Cesarean Section, Anxiety, Postoperative Pain, LI4, PC6, SP6
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh CityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether acupressure combined with standard post-operative modern medical care can reduce pain and anxiety in postpartum women after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does acupressure combined with standard care reduce post-cesarean pain more effectively than sham acupressure with standard care?
- Does the combined approach reduce post-cesarean anxiety levels more effectively than sham acupressure with standard care?
- What adverse effects may occur in participants receiving acupressure? Researchers will compare acupressure combined with standard care to sham acupressure combined with standard care to determine whether the active intervention provides additional benefits.
Participants will:
- Receive acupressure (or sham acupressure at non-therapeutic points) for 3 days.
- Receive standard post-operative modern medical pain management and care as prescribed by the hospital.
- Be assessed for pain (VAS-P) and anxiety (VAS-A, STAI-Y1) at baseline (before intervention) and after 3 days of intervention.
Detailed description
This randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupressure combined with standard modern care in postpartum women with pain and anxiety following cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.
Participants who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group ( acupressure plus standard modern care) or the control group (sham acupressure plus standard modern care).
In the intervention group, participants will receive manual acupressure (using xoa, day, and an techniques) on three bilateral therapeutic points: Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6). Before applying pressure, the surrounding tissue is rubbed (xoa) with the palm for 20-30 seconds. Then, the points are pressed (an) for 5 seconds at a depth of 1-1.5 cm, kneaded (day) for 5 seconds, and rested for 5 seconds, repeating this cycle for 2 minutes per point. The total duration is 15 minutes for 6 points, performed once daily for 3 consecutive days.
In the control group, participants will receive sham acupressure (xoa, day, an) at identical frequencies and durations on 3 non-therapeutic sham points: Sham Hegu, Sham Neiguan, and Sham Sanyinjiao.
Both groups will receive standard post-operative modern pain management as prescribed by the hospital's obstetricians, which includes:
- Post-op Day 1: Paracetamol 1g IV q6-8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h;
- Post-op Day 2 onwards: Paracetamol 1g PO q8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h or other NSAIDs (such as Diclofenac 50mg, Ibuprofen 600-1200mg/day, Paracetamol + Ibuprofen, or Paracetamol + Tramadol) as prescribed by the hospital.
Outcomes including pain (VAS-P), anxiety (VAS-A, STAI-Y1), and any adverse events will be assessed at baseline (T1, pre-intervention) and after 3 days of intervention (T2).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Real Acupressure + Standard Care | Experimental | Procedure: Acupressure, Behavioral: Standard careParticipants receive real acupressure at Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points for 15 minutes daily over 3 consecutive days post-cesarean section, combined with standard modern medical care. |
| Sham Acupressure + standard care | Sham comparator | Procedure: Sham Acupressure, Behavioral: Standard careParticipants receive sham acupressure at non-acupoints for 15 minutes daily over 3 consecutive days post-cesarean section, combined with standard modern medical care. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Postpartum women aged 18 years or older who have undergone cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia.
- Gestational age >= 37 weeks.
- Willing to participate and signing the written informed consent form.
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- General anesthesia or methods other than spinal anesthesia.
- Hearing, vision, or speech impairment.
- History of chronic diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes, severe hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or psychiatric disorders.
- Diagnosed with chronic pain before surgery, or regular use of pain medications.
- Opioid, alcohol addiction or dependence.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| AcupressureManual massage and acupressure using techniques of rubbing (xoa) for 20-30 seconds, followed by pressing (an) for 5 seconds, kneading (day) for 5 seconds, and resting for 5 seconds, repeating for 2 minutes per point. A total of 15 minutes for 6 bilateral points (Hegu [LI4], Neiguan [PC6], Sanyinjiao [SP6]) will be performed once daily for 3 consecutive days. All procedures will be performed by a licensed traditional medicine physician following standardized protocols. | Procedure or surgery | Real Acupressure + Standard Care |
| Sham AcupressureSham acupressure using identical techniques (xoa, day, an), duration (3 days), and instructions at 3 bilateral non-therapeutic points: Sham Hegu (on the back of the hand, 1 thon from the midpoint between index and middle fingers), Sham Neiguan (inner forearm, 2 thon from wrist crease and 1.5 thon towards the radial side), and Sham Sanyinjiao (3 thon above the medial malleolus, then 1.5 thon posterior on the Achilles tendon). All procedures will be performed by a licensed traditional medicine physician. | Procedure or surgery | Sham Acupressure + standard care |
| Standard careStandard post-operative modern pain management of the hospital: Post-op Day 1: Paracetamol 1g IV q6-8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h; Post-op Day 2 onwards: Paracetamol 1g PO q8h ± Diclofenac 100mg rectally q12h or other NSAIDs as prescribed. | Behavioural | Real Acupressure + Standard Care |
| Standard careStandard post-operative modern pain management of the hospital (identical to the experimental arm). | Behavioural | Sham Acupressure + standard care |
Primary outcome
Change in pain score (Visual Analog Scale for Pain, VAS-P)
Time frame: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Pain is assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS-P) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
3 secondary outcomes
Change in anxiety score (Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety, VAS-A)
Time frame: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Change in state anxiety score (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State scale, STAI-Y1)
Time frame: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Incidence of adverse events related to the intervention
Time frame: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Dieu Huong Truong principal investigator
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Acupressure in people with Postoperative Pain and Postpartum Anxiety, run by University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City at 1 site in Vietnam.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Vietnam. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in pain score (Visual Analog Scale for Pain, VAS-P) (time frame: From baseline (T1, pre-intervention) to Day 3 (T2, post-intervention)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Sep 2026.