Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum hypogalactia: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction
Breast milk is recognised as the best natural food for neonates, but many women experience postpartum hypogalactia (PH). Randomised trials have found that acupuncture exert therapeutic effect on women with PH. However, systematic reviews on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture are still lacking; therefore, this systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PH.

Methods and analysis
Six English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science) and four Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-Fang, Chinese Biomedical Literature and Chinese Scientific Journal) will be systematically searched from their establishment to 1 September 2022. Randomised controlled trials of the efficacy of acupuncture for PH will be reviewed. The study selection, data extraction and research quality evaluation will be conducted independently by two reviewers. The primary outcome is the change in serum prolactin level from baseline to the end of treatment. Secondary results include milk secretion volume, total effectiveness rate, degree of mammary fullness, rate of exclusive breast feeding, and adverse events. A meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan V.5.4 statistical software. Otherwise, a descriptive analysis will be conducted. The risk of bias will be assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.

Ethics and dissemination
This systematic review protocol does not require ethical approval because it does not include private information/data of the participants. This article will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42022351849.

Leggi
Marzo 2023

Development of a family-community interaction programme in the treatment of women with postpartum depression: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Introduction
Postpartum depression has great harm and becomes a serious public health problem. Most women stay at home after childbirth, so the support from community and family is particularly important in the treatment of postpartum depression. The cooperation between family and community can effectively improve treatment effect of patients with postpartum depression. It is imperative to conduct a study on the collaboration and interaction among patients, family and community in the treatment of postpartum depression.

Methods and analysis
The aim of this study is to determine the experience and demands of patients with postpartum depression, family caregivers and community providers for the interaction, construct an interaction intervention programme bettween family and community and promote the rehabilitation of patients with postpartum depression. From September 2022 to October 2022, this study will select postpartum depression patient families from seven communities in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province in China. The researchers, after training, will conduct semi-structured interview to collect research data. According to the integration results of qualitative research and literature review, the interaction intervention programme will be constructed and revised using the Delphi expert consultation method. Then the participants will be selected to accept the intervention of the interaction programme and evaluated through questionnaires.

Ethics and dissemination
The study is approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Zhengzhou University (ZZUIRB2021-21). The results of this study will contribute to clarify the responsibilities of family subjects and community subjects in the treatment of postpartum depression, more effectively promote the rehabilitation of patients with postpartum depression and reduce the burden of family and society. Moreover, this research will be a profitable exploration at home and abroad. And the findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number
ChiCTR2100045900.

Leggi
Febbraio 2023