Effect of overall nursing combined with acupressure in preventing postpartum urinary retention

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of overall nursing care combined with acupressure in preventing postpartum urinary retention.

Methods: A total of 200 parturients with vaginal delivery in our hospital from March to October 2019 were enrolled and randomized to a control group and an observation group with 100 cases each. The control group received conventional nursing, while the observation group was also given "overall" nursing combined with acupressure. The two groups were compared in the incidence of urinary retention, time to the first urination, first urine volume, residual urine volume, pelvic floor muscle fiber contraction time, satisfaction, and treatment efficiency.

Results: The two groups presented no significant difference in general information (P>0.05). Compared to the control group, the observation group showed a lower incidence of urinary retention and experienced an earlier time to first urination (both P<0.001). A significantly smaller residual urine volume was observed in the observation group as compared to controls at 4 h and 12 h after delivery (P<0.05). The observation group outperformed the control group in terms of pelvic floor muscle fiber contraction duration (P<0.001). Moreover, the observation group showed a treatment efficiency and nursing satisfaction superior to the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Overall nursing care combined with acupressure can exert strong positive effects on the incidence of postpartum urinary retention, time to the first urination, and residual urine volume in parturients with vaginal delivery and improve their satisfaction.

Keywords: Overall nursing care; acupressure; postpartum urinary retention.