Introduction Tonsillectomy is one of the most common pediatric surgeries in the world and pain control following tonsillectomy is very important. Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of acupressure on the amount of pain following tonsillectomy in children. Method One hundred and forty-four children aged 5–12 years old were assigned into one of three groups: interventions, control and placebo. In the intervention group, acupressure was applied at three acupoints and in the placebo group, sham acupressure was applied. In the control group routine care only was applied. Results There was a significant difference between an average of changes in pain score before and after the intervention during the 3 time periods after the tonsillectomy operation in the acupressure group (p = 0.002). Conclusion The results showed that acupressure had a positive effect on pain reduction after tonsillectomy in children in the intervention group.
Background and objectives Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly used pediatric surgeries with high stress levels for children and their parents. The present study was designed and implemented regarding the fact that limited studies have ever been carried out about the effects of complementary therapies such as acupressure on the preoperative anxiety levels in children throughout the world. Materials and methods Present study was a randomized clinical trial that was done in three groups with 144 children aged 5–12 years undergoing tonsillectomy. In present study, the children were allocated in three groups: intervention, control and sham. In the intervention group, the acupressure was applied on the Yintang point and in the sham group, was applied at a sham acupoint. No intervention was performed in the control group. Before and after intervention, the pediatric anxiety levels were measured using instruments. The results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as the Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests, chi-square (χ2) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The significance level was considered p < 0.05. Results The total anxiety score in children was (70.39 ± 20.93) in the control group, (67.83 ± 16.78) in the intervention group and (71.40 ± 21.82) in the sham group, not significant difference (p > 0.05). The different in the overall anxiety score among children before intervention compare to after intervention was as following: Control group (–3 ± 17.46), intervention group (8.42 ± 32.98) and sham group (–4.32 ± 24.47). Conclusion Like other surgical procedures, the tonsillectomy has serious stress for children. Our study demonstrates that the acupressure has a significant effect on the level of preoperative anxiety in children undergoing surgery. Therefore, nurses can use this technique to reduce the pediatric anxiety.
Background: Tonsillectomy is regarded as one of the most commonly used pediatric surgical procedures whose anxiety-related consequences can bring about several changes in the physiological characteristics of children. Therefore, the use of low-cost anxietyrelieving techniques in this domain can be of utmost importance to stabilize vital signs in this age group. Objectives: Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of acupressure on physiological indicators of pain including respiratory rate, heart rate, and levels of arterial oxygen saturation in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Methods: This study was a three-group single-blind clinical trial conducted on 144 children aged five to 12 years undergoing a tonsillectomy. To this end, the subjects were allocated into three groups of 48 individuals including control, intervention, and placebo ones. In this respect, the intervention (experimental) group received acupressure applied to three pressure points three times a day for one hour, two to four hours, and six to eight hours following a tonsillectomy. However, in the placebo group, acupressure was applied to a false (sham) acupoint. The control group also received only routine care services. Before and after all three phases of the intervention, the physiological indicators of pain (heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure) were measured and recorded in all three study groups. The data were finally analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential ones (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Kruskal-Wallis test). Results:The results of this study revealed significant differences in heart rate (P = 0.001), respiratory rate (P = 0.001), and levels of arterial oxygen saturation (P = 0.001) after three intervals of acupressure in the intervention group compared to those in other two groups. Accordingly, the means of heart rate and respiratory rate decreased and the levels of arterial oxygen saturation increased in the intervention group indicating a small number of fluctuations and much more balance in physiological indicators of pain. Conclusions:The findings of the present study showed that parasympathetic activity, following acupressure in the intervention group, could cause several changes in physiological responses, and also create a sense of relief and moderate anxiety in children. Therefore, anxiety in children undergoing a tonsillectomy could be lowered with the use of a simple, low-cost, and non-invasive technique contributing to the maintenance of physiological indicators of pain as well as decreased complications driven by vital signs, not in a normal range.
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