[Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Improving the Sleep Quality of Puerperae]

Puerperae exhibit generally poor sleep quality. Previous studies have shown auricular acupressure as effective in improving the sleep problems of nurses, college students, and elderly indigenous Taiwanese women. However, no study has yet examined the effectiveness of auricular acupressure in improving the sleep quality of postpartum women.

To explore the efficacy of auricular acupressure (AA) on puerperae who were affected by sleep disturbance.

A prospective quasi-experimental design was used and 60 puerperae with insomnia who scored at least 5 on the Chinese of version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI) were recruited at one postpartum centre (a "doing-the-month" care centre) in northern Taiwan. The experimental group (n=30) received pasted auricular magnetic beads and acupressure on the Shenmen, Xin, and Shen points. The control group (n=30) received general nursing directions about insomnia only. All participants were assessed using the CPSQI prior to the intervention and on the 21st post-intervention day. The intervention effects were analysed using the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE).

After three weeks of the AA intervention, the mean global PSQI score had decreased significantly more in the experimental group than in the control group (p<.05). Furthermore, experimental-group participants reported better sleep quality (p<.05), longer total sleep time (p<.001) and lower sleep disturbance (p<.05) than their control-group peers.

The present pilot study found complementary AA to be an effective intervention for treating puerperae with insomnia. This non-pharmacological and nonintrusive intervention for improving sleep disturbance in puerperae promotes the quality of sleep.