Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30167045›Full record

Trial reportThe Pan African medical journal2018

Effects of phloroglucinol on the active phase of labour (EPAL trial): a single blinded randomised controlled trial in a tertiary hospital in sub-Sahara Africa.

Charlotte Nguefack Tchente, Theophile Njamen Nana, Paul Nkemtendong Tolefac, Martin Hongieh Abanda, Francky Teddy Endomba Angong, Rita Frinue Tamambang, Gabin Ulrich Kenfack, Georges Nkwelle Mangala, Sagir Muhammad, Marie Solange Doualla and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled TrialEquivalence Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in The Pan African medical journal, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Charlotte Nguefack TchenteFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Theophile Njamen NanaService of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
Paul Nkemtendong TolefacService of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
Martin Hongieh AbandaClinical Research Education Networking and Consultancy, Douala, Cameroon.
Francky Teddy Endomba AngongFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Rita Frinue TamambangFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Gabin Ulrich KenfackFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Georges Nkwelle MangalaService of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
Sagir MuhammadFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Marie Solange DouallaService of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
Eugene Priso BelleyService of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
University of Douala · CMUniversité de Yaoundé I · CMUniversity of Buea · CM

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionOne of the most recognized factors of maternal and neonatal outcome pertaining to the peripartum period is the duration of labour. Finding a drug that will decrease the duration of labour with no effects on mother and foetus will be welcomed. Thereby in this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of phloroglucinol on the duration of the active phase of labour.

methodsWe did a single blinded placebo controlled randomised 1:1 parallel designed superiority trial between January and June 2017 in Douala general hospital. Participants greater than 18 years with singleton uncomplicated pregnancy who consented following randomisation, were administered either 80mg/8ml intravenous phloroglucinol or 8ml of sterile water when in active labour. The primary outcome was the duration of labour. Modified intention to treat analysis was done with the level of significance set at a p value of 0.05.

results122 participants received the intervention. The mean total duration labour in the treatment and placebo group were 216.8 ± 38.7 and 358.5 ± 65.8 respectively (p value = 0.243). The mean duration of the active phase of labour in the treatment and placebo group were 183.0±35.6 and 316.0±52.2 respectively (p value = 0.046). The mean rate of cervical dilatation in the treatment and placebo group were 2.1 ± 0.4 and 1.3 ± 0.4 respectively (p value = 0.322). There was no difference in maternal and foetal outcomes between the two groups.

conclusionPhloroglucinol shortens the duration of active phase of labour by about 2 hours (42%). It is safe to mother and baby and does not cause adverse foetal or maternal outcomes.

Indexed as

AdultCameroonFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornLabor, ObstetricLabor Stage, FirstPhloroglucinolPregnancySingle-Blind MethodTertiary Care CentersTime FactorsYoung AdultPhloroglucinolactive labourduration of labourPhloroglucinolrate of cervical dilatation

Identifiers

PMID30167045
PMCPMC6110543
OpenAlexW2801503444

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.