Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Measures on Nausea and Vomiting during First Trimester of Pregnancy

Abstract

Context: Nausea and vomiting are the most common pregnancy symptoms that negatively affect many pregnant women. Severity varies from mild distaste for certain foods to more severe vomiting.
Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of applying evidence-based measures on nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Methods: A quasi-experimental (pre/post-test) design was used. The study was conducted at the antenatal clinics at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. A purposive sample of forty-seven pregnant women was included in this study. All women received the evidence-based intervention. Data were collected using three tools. A structured interviewing questionnaire, pregnancy symptoms inventory (PSI), and weekly follow-up record. In addition to Arabic Evidence-based guide for alleviating nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy. All pregnant women that suffered from nausea and vomiting followed the evidence-based guidelines designed by the researcher that involved instructions related to lifestyle modification. Besides, one of the following: herbal therapy, acupressure, and aromatherapy to relieve nausea and vomiting.
Results: The study sample mean age was 28.1±6.42, with a mean gestational age of 9.43 ±3.88. 72% of them used nothing to overcome nausea and vomiting, while 18% used medication, and only 10% used a lifestyle modification before intervention. All women adopt lifestyle modification; 72.3% use herbal therapy after the intervention. The present study demonstrates a highly significant difference between responses before and after the intervention related to nausea and vomiting (p 0.004). There is a significant association between the evidence-based measure used and the relief of nausea and vomiting at p<0.01.
Conclusion: The current study concluded that evidence-based measures positively alleviated nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy. A leaflet or booklet about evidence-based measures for alleviating minor discomforts during pregnancy as a hospital protocol for guiding nurses in the application is strongly recommended.