Effectiveness of informational nursing support for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A systematic review

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of informational nursing support for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). MethodsAn exhaustive search was performed using five databases, and experimental or quasi-experimental studies with abstracts satisfying PICO were selected. We examined the texts of the selected articles and finally selected those that met our inclusion criteria. Using Cochrane's Risk of Bias ver.2, we independently assessed risk of bias in five domains and pooled the results to assess quality. Items with differing results were discussed and final ratings were combined. ResultsA total of six papers were adopted. Subjective symptoms of NVP were measured using the Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, The Motherisk Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea, and the Visual Analogue Scale. Quality of Life (QOL) of pregnant women was measured using Health-Related Quality of Life for Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy. Additionally, a paper tracked the duration of NVP. Intervention methods included telephone visits, a combination of interviews and telephone visits, lectures in small groups, and a combination of lectures and discussions. All studies included a baseline survey, followed by surveys at two and four weeks postintervention. One paper had weekly follow-ups until NVP converged. It was suggested that nursing support, which mainly included information provision for NVP, can be expected to have a certain effect in alleviating the pain experienced by pregnant women. However, as a result of quality evaluation using Risk of Bias ver.2, all papers were rated as "high risk of bias" or "some concern." ConclusionIn the existing studies examining the effects of nursing support for NVP, the risk of bias was inevitable because of the nature of the intervention. Therefore, it is imperative to increase the reliability of the results by conducting randomized controlled trials, publishing the protocol prior to the start of the study, unifying scales for measuring subjective symptoms of NVP, and limiting outcome indicators to one. Furthermore, the timing of the intervention and follow-up intervals that consider the physiological changes of NVP should be considered.