*3.1. Study Selection and Characteristics*

We identified 198 studies using our search strategy and included 16 studies based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria. We summarize the process of study identification and selection in Figure 1, and present the characteristics of each of the included studies in Table 1. All included studies were randomized controlled trials. The size of the study populations ranged from 20 to 406 persons. The 16 studies included a total of 2555 participants; eight studies included participants from China [10,11,19–24], two studies included participants from Italy [25,26], and the others included participants from France [27], Australia [28], Switzerland [29], Croatia [17], Denmark [16], and Spain [15]. Most studies were published in English (56.3%); others were published in Chinese (37.5%) and French (6.2%).

Regarding study interventions, 13 RCTs compared moxibustion with control [10,11, 15,16,19,21–25,27–29]; two RCTs compared acupuncture with control [17,22]; two RCTs compared moxibustion plus acupuncture with control [20,26]. Treatment was applied to BL67 in all included studies. The duration of each intervention was distinct from study to study. The typical application time of moxibustion or acupuncture was 15–20 min. The treatment sessions were typically conducted over 7–14 days. The gestational age was different among studies, ranging from 28 to 37 weeks, when acupuncture or/and moxibustion was performed.

Chen 2007

Do 2011

Guittier

**Figure 1.** Flow chart of the identification and selection of studies for inclusion. **Figure 1.** Flow chart of the identification and selection of studies for inclusion.



minutes on each side; 10 days Observation Cephalic presentation

minutes on each side; 14 days Observation Cephalic presentation

2009 [29] RCT 212 Moxibustion at bilateral BL67; 10


### **Table 1.** *Cont.*

BL67: Bladder67 (Zhiyin point), ECV: external cephalic version, RCT: randomized controlled trials.
