title: Effectiveness of acupuncture for the initiation of labour at term: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for the initiation of labour in women at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective pilot randomized control trial was undertaken, in which 16 pregnant women at term were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture either at sites reported to cause onset of labour or at nearby sham sites. The primary outcome assessed was the interval from initial acupuncture treatment to delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a difference in intervention to delivery interval of 62 hours in favour of the treatment group. Furthermore, women in this group had shorter labours by a mean of 2 hours and 20 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interesting results of this pilot trial warrant further investigation into the use of acupuncture for the initiation of labour in women at term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston ON.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gaudet
authors.affiliation: PRO-ACTIVE Rehabilitation Centre, Kingston ON.
authors.forename: Randal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dyzak
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB.
authors.forename: Steven K H
authors.initials: SKH
authors.lastname: Aung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston ON.
authors.forename: Graeme N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult