title: Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Effectiveness of a Self-Care Program for Pregnant Women for Relieving Hiesho.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess differences in improvement of hiesho (sensitivity to cold) through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of one group that used a self-care program (the Home Care Package Program for Relieving Hiesho) and another that did not.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were pregnant women experiencing hiesho in the 28th to 33rd weeks of pregnancy. The group carried out the intervention program for 4 weeks by wearing leg warmers, performing exercises, and pressing acupuncture points. The control group did not take any specific actions. Hiesho condition was assessed by using thermography to measure temperature in the four limbs; the changes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings for 140 pregnant women (73 in the experimental group and 67 in the control group) were analyzed. Participants' body temperatures were measured after completion of the program for 4 weeks and compared to their temperatures before start of the program. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had arm skin temperature 3.0°C (p < 0.001) higher and leg skin temperature 1.93°C (p = 0.02) higher; both differences were significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Home Care Package Program for Relieving Hiesho self-care program significantly relieved hiesho.
authors.affiliation: 1 Yokohama City University , Kanagawa, Japan .
authors.forename: Sachiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: 2 St. Luke's International University and St. Luke's Birth Clinic , Tokyo, Japan .
authors.forename: Shigeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D003080:Cold Temperature; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011312:Pressure; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013697:Thermosensing
keywords: acupuncture points; exercises; health promotion; pregnant woman; randomized controlled trial