title: Pregnant women and health professional's perceptions of complementary alternative medicine, and participation in a randomised controlled trial of acupressure for labour onset.
abstract: Feasibility randomised controlled trials of complementary medicine are important to evaluate acceptability and practicality. This study examined participants' and health professionals' perceptions of CAM and participation in a feasibility RCT of acupressure for labour onset.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study incorporated within an RCT. Data were collected from postnatal women via questionnaires and health professionals via focus groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes emerged from the women's views: "Using CAM to start labour", "Feeling empowered through action", "Desiring randomisation to acupressure group", and "Welcoming the opportunity to assist in research". Five themes emerged from the health professionals' views: "Personal awareness and attitudes towards CAM"; "Supporting and empowering women"; "Complements the wellness model of pregnancy and childbirth"; "Need for evidenced based practice"; and "Randomisation 'doing it on the sly'".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Themes from the groups were similar. The study protocol will be refined with a placebo group to improve equipoise with a powered RCT planned.
authors: Centre for Midwifery and Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, City Campus, PO Box 123 Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: LyndallJoy.Mollart@student.uts.edu.au.
authors: Lyndall
authors: L
authors: Mollart
authors: Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, City Campus, PO Box 123 Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: Jon.Adams@uts.edu.au.
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Adams
authors: Centre for Midwifery and Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, City Campus, PO Box 123 Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: maralyn.foureur@uts.edu.au.
authors: Maralyn
authors: M
authors: Foureur
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007745:Labor Onset; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acupressure; Health professionals; Pregnant women; Qualitative study; RCT participation