Development of a Management Model for Hyperemesis in Pregnant Women Through the "Vibratory Emesis Massage"

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterized by severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that may affect nutritional status, fluid balance, and quality of life. Non-pharmacological therapies such as acupressure and massage stimulation have increasingly been used as complementary approaches to reduce symptoms during pregnancy.

This study developed a nursing intervention model called Vibratory Emesis Massage (VEM), which combines vibratory stimulation and acupressure at the Pericardium 6 (P6) point using a wearable wristband device. The intervention was designed to reduce nausea and vomiting symptoms in pregnant women through peripheral nerve stimulation and relaxation mechanisms.

The study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design involving 240 pregnant women diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum at Prof. Dr. Chairuddin Panusunan Lubis Hospital, University of North Sumatra. Participants were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received Vibratory Emesis Massage therapy for 15-20 minutes per session.

The severity of nausea and vomiting was measured using the Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE-24) questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Mann-Whitney U Test to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

The study aimed to provide evidence for the effectiveness of Vibratory Emesis Massage as a practical, safe, non-invasive, and nurse-led intervention for managing nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.

Inclusion criteria

• Pregnant women diagnosed with emesis gravidarum or hyperemesis gravidarum.
• Gestational age within the first, second, or third trimester (with a focus on those experiencing active nausea and vomiting symptoms).
• Aged between 18 and 45 years.
• Admitted to or receiving care at Prof. Dr. Chairuddin Panusunan Lubis Hospital, University of North Sumatra.
• Willing to participate in the study and capable of providing written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant women with severe medical complications unrelated to hyperemesis (e.g., severe cardiovascular disease, active skin infections, or open wounds at the Pericardium 6 / P6 acupoint area on the wrist).
• Patients receiving concurrent alternative non-pharmacological therapies for nausea and vomiting that could confound the study results.
• Patients who are unable to complete the assigned 15-to-20-minute Vibratory Emesis Massage (MVE) sessions due to acute physical or cognitive distress.
• Participants who choose to withdraw from the hospital treatment or study protocol before the post-test evaluation is completed.