Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials of Acupressure Therapy for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Table 2

Characteristics of clinical trials of acupressure therapy for primary dysmenorrhea.

Study ID	Location	N *	Mean age (SD)*	Intervention	Control	Outcome
Bazarganipour et al. 2010 [15]	Iran	88/84	20.01 (1.01)/19.92 (0.87)	AP, Taichong, 2 minutes, continued for 20 minutes	Placebo point	Andersch and Milsom scale
H. M. Chen and C. H. Chen 2004 [16]	Taiwan, China	35/34	18.06 (1.28)/17.54 (1.54)	AP, once a day for bleeding (4–6 weeks); Sanyinjiao	Waiting list control	MDQ, SF-MPQ, VAS for pain, VAS for anxiety
H. M. Chen and C. H. Chen 2010 [17]	Taiwan, China	30/33/36/35	16.75 (1.36)/16.83 (1.79)/16.88 (2.09)/16.77 (1.19)	AP, Zusanli, Hegu, Sanyinjiao, for 20 minutes	Rest, for 20 minutes	MDQ, SF-MPQ, VAS for pain, VAS for anxiety
Kashefi et al. 2010 [18]	Iran	40/41	NA	AP, Sanyinjiao	Placebo AP	VAS, SF-MPQ
Mirbagher-Ajorpaz et al. 2011 [19]	Iran	15/15	22 (1.6)/22 (2.64)	AP, Sanyinjiao	Placebo AP, Sanyinjiao	VAS
Pouresmail and Ibrahimzadeh 2002 [20]	Iran	72/72/72	NA	AP, once per 2 days from 24 h prior to bleeding (3 months); Hegu, Daheng, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Taichong	(a) Ibuprofen 9 tablets for 3 days; (b) Sham AP (nonacupoints)	Andersch and Milsom scale, VAS
Taylor et al. 2002 [21]	USA	31/27	30.7 (6.2)/32.7 (5.5)	AP plus Ibuprofen, device placed from day one of bleeding for 3 days (two menstrual cycles)	Ibuprofen	Worst menstrual pain, menstrual symptom intensity, pain medication consumption
Wong et al. 2010 [22]	Hong Kong, China	19/21	22 (0.082)/21.57 (0.746)	SP6 acupressure	Rest	VAS, SF-MPQ, SF-MDQ

Appendix. *Intervention group/control group; AP: acupressure; VAS: visual analogue scale; SF-MDQ: Short-Form Menstrual Distress Questionnaire; SF-MPQ: Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire; NA: not available.