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Iranian Journal of Psychiatry Oct 2023The current study aimed to compare the impact of acupressure and clonazepam tablets on the quality of sleep in hemodialysis patients in light of the rising prevalence...
The current study aimed to compare the impact of acupressure and clonazepam tablets on the quality of sleep in hemodialysis patients in light of the rising prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the high prevalence of sleep disturbance in these patients, and the side effects of hypnotic drugs. A total of 60 patients were selected for this randomized, controlled clinical trial and randomly assigned to two groups. For two weeks during the researcher's evening shift, one group received acupressure (six spots bilaterally for three minutes each day). The opposing group was administered clonazepam tablets (0.5 mg) for two weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which measures sleep quality, was used to compare sleep in the two groups before and after the intervention. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups prior to the intervention (P = 0.75) in terms of the mean pre-intervention PSQI scores for the acupressure and clonazepam groups, which were 15.83 ± 1.51 and 16.17 ± 0.91, respectively. However, the average PSQI scores after the intervention in the clonazepam and acupressure groups were 13.25 ± 2.88 and 8.97 ± 4.29, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001). Both the acupressure and the clonazepam groups showed improvements in their post-intervention sleep quality among the patients. However, when the percentage changed in the mean scores of the total score and all of the PSQI components were calculated for each group, it became clear that acupressure was more effective at enhancing sleep than clonazepam tablets. The findings of the present investigation demonstrate that acupressure has a greater impact on patients' sleep quality compared to clonazepam tablets. Depending on the circumstances, acupressure can be used as a simple, safe, and non-drug way to enhance hemodialysis patients' quality of sleep.
PubMed: 37881413
DOI: 10.18502/ijps.v18i4.13632 -
Cancer NursingPancreatic and colon cancer are among important gastrointestinal cancer diseases. Pain, fatigue, and insomnia are among the most common symptoms in cancer patients...
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic and colon cancer are among important gastrointestinal cancer diseases. Pain, fatigue, and insomnia are among the most common symptoms in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Self-acupressure may improve patients' pain, fatigue, sleep quality, quality of life, and functional well-being.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of self-acupressure application on pain, fatigue, and sleep quality in colon and pancreatic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
METHODS
This randomized controlled study was conducted with 60 patients in treatment for pancreatic or colon cancer, 30 in the intervention and 30 in the control group, between June and October 2021. Participants in the intervention group were asked to complete 16 acupressure sessions for 4 weeks, 2 days a week in the morning and afternoon for a total of 18 minutes, depending on the preparation and pressure time on 4 pressure points. Control group participants did not receive any interventions during the study. The data were collected by using a personal information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Piper Fatigue Scale, and the visual analog scale.
RESULTS
After self-acupressure, the visual analog scale, Piper Fatigue Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores of the intervention group decreased when compared with the control group scores; the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Self-acupressure was effective in reducing the pain, fatigue, and sleep disorder scores of patients with colon or pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
In nursing practice, self-acupressure, an applicable, accessible, and inexpensive method in the management of cancer-related symptoms, can be supported and maintained during a 4-week period.
PubMed: 36728147
DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001193 -
Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis :... Aug 2023We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of the nonpharmacologic interventions on muscle related symptoms including cramping and restless leg syndrome in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of the nonpharmacologic interventions on muscle related symptoms including cramping and restless leg syndrome in hemodialysis patients.
METHODS
Articles published between 2002 and 2022 were searched in six databases. The standardized mean differences were determined by the upper and lower limits of 95% confidence intervals. Publication bias was assessed by conducting the Egger test and examined visually using a funnel plot.
RESULTS
Fourteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. The types of interventions included exercise (n = 5), aromatherapy (n = 5), reflexology (n = 3), massage (n = 1), and acupressure (n = 1). The methodological quality assessment revealed 13 studies were strong quality, while only one study was moderate quality. The Egger test indicated no significant publication biases.
CONCLUSION
Healthcare professionals can use non-pharmacological methods to manage muscle-related symptoms because of not only beneficial effects but also it is practical, well-tolerated, easy integrated into the treatment and care.
Topics: Humans; Muscle Cramp; Restless Legs Syndrome; Leg; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Massage
PubMed: 36691882
DOI: 10.1111/1744-9987.13968 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Oct 2023Intern nursing students are exposed to many stressors, such as preparing for theoretical courses, studying for exams, fearing that they may make mistakes in clinical... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
CONTEXT
Intern nursing students are exposed to many stressors, such as preparing for theoretical courses, studying for exams, fearing that they may make mistakes in clinical practice, working under inappropriate conditions, fearing infection, and experiencing insomnia. The stressors in question can increase the students' level of fatigue.
OBJECTIVE
The study intended to determine the effects of acupressure on nursing students' fatigue.
DESIGN
The research team designed a prospective, two-arm (1:1), single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial.
SETTING
The study took place in the Mersin University Faculty of Nursing in Mersin, Turkey.
PARTICIPANTS
Participants were 68 fourth-year nursing students at the university who were interns involved in almost all stages of patient care in clinical practice.
INTERVENTION
The research team divided the participants into an acupressure group (n = 34), the intervention group, and an acupressure sham group (n = 34), the control group. Both groups performed self-acupressure three times a week for four weeks, for 12 sessions.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Both groups completed a fatigue severity scale at baseline and postintervention after four weeks of therapy.
RESULTS
The acupressure group's mean scores postintervention on the fatigue severity scale were significantly lower than those of the acupressure sham group (P < .001). Between baseline and postintervention, the acupressure group's fatigue levels had significantly decreased (P < .001). No significant change occurred in the acupressure sham group's fatigue levels between baseline and postintervention.
CONCLUSIONS
Acupressure is a noninvasive, simple, safe, and complimentary and integrated method that nurses can apply independently to manage fatigue.
Topics: Humans; Acupressure; Single-Blind Method; Prospective Studies; Students, Nursing; Fatigue
PubMed: 36480678
DOI: No ID Found -
Complementary Therapies in Clinical... Nov 2023This study aimed to explore the effects of acupressure in alleviating constipation among inpatients with stroke in neurological departments. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
This study aimed to explore the effects of acupressure in alleviating constipation among inpatients with stroke in neurological departments.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This was a two-arm, parallel, randomized, controlled trial conducted between September 2020 and August 2021. In total, 128 inpatients with stroke at the acute phase from neurological departments were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to either an acupressure group (ST25, CV12, and CV6) or a sham acupressure group for twice-daily therapy at 4 min per intervention for 7 days. The Bristol Stool Form Scale and Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) were assessed at the beginning and completion of the study. A generalized estimating equation was used for data analyses.
RESULTS
The mean ages were 63.8 ± 19.1 and 66.2 ± 16.0 years, and the average National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were 7.2 ± 5.6 and 8.1 ± 6.3 points for the acupressure and sham acupressure groups, respectively. The acupressure group demonstrated gradually lower scores on the CAS over time than the sham acupressure group. Patients who received acupressure had a lower likelihood of requiring defecation medication and were more likely to have normal bowel movements and a decreased risk of their stool appearing as a hard lump than those who received sham acupressure over time.
CONCLUSION
Traditional Chinese medicine-based acupressure can help alleviate constipation and reduce the use of defecation medication among inpatients with stroke who have been admitted to neurological departments.
TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05612646.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Acupressure; Inpatients; Constipation; Acupuncture Therapy; Stroke; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37793306
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101801 -
The Journal of Head Trauma...Fatigue is a common symptom after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may persist for weeks or years. However, nonpharmacological management strategies for fatigue... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Fatigue is a common symptom after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may persist for weeks or years. However, nonpharmacological management strategies for fatigue alleviations are almost nonexistent; thus, effective fatigue management programs are needed urgently.
PURPOSES
We aimed to evaluate the effects of self-administered acupressure programs on post-TBI fatigue and heart rate variability and identify the possible correlation between the improvements in fatigue symptoms and the changes in heart rate variability.
DESIGN
This randomized controlled trial included 2-point acupressure (TPA; n = 27), 5-point acupressure (FPA; n = 27), and usual care (UC, control; n = 27) groups who underwent several assessments before and after the study intervention. Heart rate variability was evaluated at baseline, weeks 2 and 3, and treatment completion.
METHODS
The TPA and FPA groups self-administered acupressure (3 minutes per acupoint; bilateral), thrice daily for 4 weeks, whereas the UC group received routine treatment without acupressure.
RESULTS
Both the TPA and FPA groups exhibited substantial improvements in fatigue symptoms compared with the baseline findings in the UC group. In addition, the TPA and FPA groups exhibited increased high-frequency power and mean number of times per hour in which the changes in successive normal sinus intervals (RR) gradually exceeded 50 ms (pNN50). Changes in high-frequency power and pNN50 were correlated with improvements in post-TBI fatigue symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Acupressure may alleviate chronic fatigue and enhance parasympathetic activity in TBI survivors. The enhancement of parasympathetic activity may be correlated with improvements in post-TBI fatigue symptoms.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Healthcare providers should incorporate self-administered acupressure into the care plans for TBI survivors to improve their fatigue symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Acupressure; Self Care; Heart Rate; Survivors; Brain Injuries, Traumatic
PubMed: 36951471
DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000861 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023The number of randomized controlled trials using auricular stimulation (AS) such as transauricular vagus nerve stimulation, or other auricular electrostimulation or...
BACKGROUND
The number of randomized controlled trials using auricular stimulation (AS) such as transauricular vagus nerve stimulation, or other auricular electrostimulation or auricular acupuncture or acupressure, in experimental and clinical settings, has increased markedly over the last three decades. This systematic review focusses on cardiovascular effects of auricular stimulation.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
The following databases were searched: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ISI Web of Science, and Scopus Database. RCTs were reviewed that had been published in English and European languages. Data collection and analysis was conducted by two reviewers independently. Quality and risk assessment of included studies was performed and the meta-analysis of the effect of the most frequently assessed biomarkers.
RESULTS
Altogether, 78 trials were included. 38 studies assessed heart rate (HR), 19 studies analyzed heart rate variability (HRV), 31 studies analyzed blood pressure (BP) and 7 studies were identified that measured oxygen saturation (O2), 2 studies on baroreflex sensitivity and 2 studies on skin conductance were evaluated in this review. 26 studies contained continuous data and were eligible for meta-analysis, 50 trials reported non continuous data and were evaluated descriptively. The overall quality of the studies was moderate to low. AS leads to a significant reduction of HR, the changes though were not considered an adverse reaction. Furthermore, when looking at HRV, AS was able to reduce the LF/HF ratio significantly compared to control procedures. No other cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, oxygen saturation, baroreflex sensitivity) were changed significantly. AS produced only minor side effects in all trials.
CONCLUSION
AS can lead to clinically safe reduction of HR and changes in the LF/HF ratio of the HRV, which is presumably via an increase in vagal activity. More research is needed to clarify whether AS can be used to modulate tachycardia or indications with autonomic imbalance.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=231885 PROSPERO, ID CRD42021231885.
PubMed: 37727325
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1227858 -
Journal of Integrative and... Dec 2023Normal labor is stressful, and the intense pain and anxiety can have an adverse effect on the mother, the fetus, and the delivery procedure. This study aimed to...
Normal labor is stressful, and the intense pain and anxiety can have an adverse effect on the mother, the fetus, and the delivery procedure. This study aimed to determine how acupressure applied to multiple acupoints during normal labor affected labor pain and anxiety in primiparous women. This study was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial that involved 43 primiparous women aging 20-30 years who were referred for normal labor. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of two groups: acupressure or control. Acupressure was administered to the Large Intestine 4 (LI4), Heart 7 (He-7), and Spleen 6 (SP6) acupoints in the acupressure group, whereas sham acupressure was administered to the control group. The study assessed the mothers' anxiety levels using the Spielberger Inventory questionnaire and measured their pain levels using the visual analog scale before and after the intervention. In addition, pulse rate and blood pressure were also measured. In the acupressure group, both the anxiety score and pain level showed a substantial improvement ( < 0.001), but in the control group, only the anxiety score showed a significant improvement ( < 0.001). After the intervention, the difference in anxiety and pain scores between the two groups is statistically significant ( < 0.001). Furthermore, neither group's blood pressure nor pulse rate showed any significant changes ( < 0.05). According to the study's findings, acupressure targeting LI4, He-7, and SP6 acupoints was effective in relieving anxiety and pain during labor. Compared with the sham acupressure group, the acupressure group showed a greater decrease in both anxiety and pain levels. As such, acupressure may be recommended as an effective, affordable, and accessible technique for managing pain and anxiety during labor. This study has been registered in the database of clinical trials under the identifier Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05411289.
PubMed: 38117578
DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0072 -
Clinical and Experimental Hypertension... Dec 2023Endothelial function may improve with enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) or acupuncture. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of acupoint stimulation... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
Endothelial function may improve with enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) or acupuncture. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of acupoint stimulation combined with EECP (acupoint-EECP) for endothelial cell function in patients with essential hypertension.
METHODS
Thirty essential hypertensive patients were, randomly divided into two groups, with 15 patients in the acupoint-EECP group, and 15 patients in the control group, of which 3 cases were lost by week 6. Both groups were treated with continued medicine. The participants in the acupoint-EECP group received acupoint stimulation combined with EECP therapy, 45 min for each time, 5 times weekly for 6 weeks for a total of 22.5 hours. The selected acupoints are Zusanli (ST36), Fenglong (ST40) and Sanyinjiao (SP6). The curative effects of the two groups were compared.
RESULTS
The acupoint-EECP group (n=15) showed significant improvement in endothelial function [nitric oxide (NO) ,endothelin-1 (ET-1) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), respectively] values compared to the control group (n=12). Multiple imputation (n = 20 imputations) was performed to account for potential bias due to missing data. In stratified analyses, SBP and DBP values decreased when the baseline SBP was ≥120 mmHg and DBP was ≥80 mmHg.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the feasibility of acupoint-EECP in improving endothelial function and treating hypertension. (The Chinese clinical trial registration number is ChiCTR2100053795.).
Topics: Humans; Pilot Projects; Pulse Wave Analysis; Acupuncture Therapy; Hypertension; Counterpulsation
PubMed: 36871563
DOI: 10.1080/10641963.2023.2181355 -
Medicine Oct 2023Currently, numerous treatment measures exist for postpartum stress urinary incontinence (PSUI); however, the study results are inconsistent. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Currently, numerous treatment measures exist for postpartum stress urinary incontinence (PSUI); however, the study results are inconsistent.
METHOD
Computer searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CKNI, and Wanfang databases were conducted to search the literature on 13 different intervention modalities for PSUI from the date of establishment to January 2023 for analysis. The literature was independently screened, and the information was extracted by 2 researchers. A reticulated meta-analysis was conducted using Stata software.
RESULTS
The findings of the reticulated meta-analysis revealed that, in terms of the effectiveness of the 13 interventions for treating PSUI from highest to lowest, the most effective was acupressure + pelvic floor muscle training (94.6%). Following this, the interventions ranked from best to worst were electroacupuncture + trans moxibustion (79.1%), pelvic floor muscle training + acupuncture (64.3%), pelvic floor muscle training + pelvic floor electrical stimulation (60.3%), biofeedback electrical stimulation + acupuncture (60.0%), pelvic floor muscle training + biofeedback electrical stimulation (59.8%), biofeedback electrical stimulation + acupuncture + herbal hot compresses (56.6%), moxibustion + pelvic floor muscle training (56.6%), pelvic floor muscle training + pelvic floor electrical stimulation + acupuncture (53.1%), biofeedback electrical stimulation + moxibustion (52.1%), pelvic floor muscle training (17.6%), biofeedback electrical stimulation (16.1%), and health coaching (0.2%). The evidence indicates that acupressure + pelvic floor muscle training may be the most effective intervention for treating PSUI occurrence.
CONCLUSION
Improvement in 13 clinical indicators was observed in patients with PSUI, and significant enhancement was achieved through acupressure + pelvic floor muscle training.
Topics: Female; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Pelvic Floor; Urinary Incontinence; Urinary Incontinence, Stress; Biofeedback, Psychology; Postpartum Period; China; Exercise Therapy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37800777
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035473