Effect of Su Jok Therapy on perception of insufficient milk, breastfeeding success, and breastfeeding self-efficacy in primiparous women who gave birth by cesarean section: Randomized controlled trial.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of Su Jok therapy on perception of insufficient milk, breastfeeding success, and breastfeeding self-efficacy in primiparous women who gave birth by cesarean section. METHOD: This is a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Data were collected between October 9, 2024, and January 20, 2025, with a sample of 60 women who were randomly assigned to the Su Jok Therapy (n=30) or control (n=30) groups. The experimental group received Su Jok Therapy once daily for 4 h during the first 10 days postpartum. The control group did not receive the Su Jok Therapy intervention. Data were collected at three different time points: postpartum 1st day pre-intervention, postpartum 72.nd hour (4.th day) pre-intervention, postpartum 10th day after intervention. The primary outcomes of the study were the mean scores of the Perceived Insufficient Milk Quetionaire (PIMQ), Breastfeeding Charting System (LATCH), and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES). RESULTS: At 72nd hour and 10th day postpartum, the mean LATCH, BSES and PIMQ mean scores of the women in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<.05). Compared with the control group, the mean LATCH, BSES, and PIMQ scores measured over time increased by 32.7%, 58.5% and 37.0%, respectively, in the Su Jok Therapy group (p<.05). The proportion of mothers who found their own milk sufficient at 72nd hour and 10th day after birth was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Su Jok Therapy may support breastfeeding perception, self-efficacy, and success; however, the findings reflect maternal perception and confidence rather than objective milk production. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number NCT06628960. This research was registered in the NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine Clinical Trial Registry on October 3, 2024. The first woman participant was recruited on October 9, 2024. NCT registration link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06628960.