The use of CAM by women suffering from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) affects two-thirds of pregnant women to varying degrees and over the years many modalities have been used to try to alleviate this often debilitating condition. There is a paucity of information in the literature about the use or efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the treatment of this condition that affects so many women. Our primary objective was to examine the prevalence of CAM usage by women suffering from NVP. Our secondary objective was to ascertain if women had any supervision in the use of these treatments. METHODS: Women who called The Motherisk NVP helpline, were asked after the counseling session to complete a questionnaire, which included demographic data as well as information about their CAM use. RESULTS: Seventy women completed the questionnaire. 61% reported using CAM therapies, of which the three most popular were: ginger, vitamin B6 and acupressure. 21% of those who reported using CAM, had consulted CAM practitioners, 8% their physicians or pharmacists and 71% discussed the usage with family, friends and other allied health professionals. Women who did not use CAM stated they would probably use these modalities if there was more information about the safety in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with NVP are mirroring the trend in the general population of the use of CAM. They are also using CAM therapies with little supervision from practitioners experienced in the use of these modalities.

研究背景：妊娠期恶心呕吐（Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, NVP）会影响三分之二的孕妇，且病情程度各不相同。多年来，学界已尝试采用多种干预手段以缓解这一常致患者虚弱不适的病症。目前，针对补充与替代疗法（complementary and alternative medicine, CAM）治疗该病的应用效果相关研究资料较为匮乏，而该病波及为数众多的孕妇群体。本研究的首要目标为调查罹患妊娠期恶心呕吐的孕妇使用补充与替代疗法的比例；次要目标为明确孕妇在使用此类疗法时是否获得过专业指导。

研究方法：致电Motherisk妊娠期恶心呕吐热线的孕妇，在咨询结束后被要求填写一份问卷，问卷内容涵盖人口统计学资料以及其使用补充与替代疗法的相关信息。

研究结果：共有70名孕妇完成了问卷。其中61%的受访者表示曾使用补充与替代疗法，最常用的三种疗法分别为生姜疗法、维生素B6及指压疗法。在使用补充与替代疗法的受访者中，21%曾咨询过补充与替代疗法从业者，8%咨询过内科医师或药剂师，另有71%与家人、朋友及其他辅助医疗专业人员讨论过该疗法的使用情况。未使用过补充与替代疗法的受访者表示，若能获得更多关于此类疗法在妊娠期使用的安全性相关信息，她们大概率会尝试使用该类疗法。

研究结论：罹患妊娠期恶心呕吐的孕妇使用补充与替代疗法的趋势与普通人群一致。且她们在使用此类疗法时，极少获得具备该类疗法使用经验的专业人员的指导。