Acupressure and Anxiety in Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background:Anxiety has negative effects on mental and physical performance, quality of life, duration of hospitalization, and even on the treatment of patients with cancer.Objectives:Today acupressure is widely used to treat anxiety. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of acupressure on anxiety in patients with cancer.Patients and Methods:A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 85 patients hospitalized with 3 groups including acupressure group (n = 27), sham group (n = 28), and control group (n = 30) in the hematologic ward of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Hamadan, Iran, in 2013. The sampling permuted-block randomization with triple block was used. The anxiety of the patients in the experimental, sham, and control groups were measured with Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Then, real acupressure was performed in the experimental group and fake acupressure in the sham group, and only routine care was provided for the control group. Anxiety of the patients was also assessed at 5 and 10 days after the intervention. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by SPSS software using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc least significant difference (LSD) test.Results:According to the findings, the mean level of anxiety before the intervention between groups were matched (P > 0.05). Acupressure had a significant influence on the anxiety in the experimental group at 5 (45.30 ± 7.14) and 10 days (43.48 ± 6.82) after the intervention (P < 0.05). However, it did not have a significant impact on their covert anxiety (45.48 ± 7.92 at 5th day vs 45.63 ± 8.08 at 10th day, P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the fake points regarding overt and covert anxiety of patients in the sham group (overt anxiety; 47.57 ± 7.85 at 5th day vs. 46.71 ± 7.32 at 10th day, P > 0.05) (covert anxiety; 47.96 ± 6.33 at 5th day vs. 46.89 ± 6.94 at 10th day, P > 0.05). Moreover, the routine care provided for the control group did not have any effect on the overt and covert anxiety of the patients (P > 0.05).Conclusions:Acupressure is recommended as a complementary therapy to reduce anxiety in patients with cancer because of its low cost, safety, and simplicity.

Ansiedade em pacientes com neoplasias malignas no pós-operatório mediato: estudo correlacional

“…It may be also noted that the very high level of trait anxiety was not observed in patients with stomach cancer. This is in contrast with the literature, which associates gastric cancer with increased prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients (19) .…”

“…Research indicates that anxiety in cancer patients may be related to a multitude of reasons: as a response to the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm, long-term treatments, side effects of therapy, poor adherence to treatment, frequent hospitalizations, changes in the normal pattern of life, decreased quality of life, possible disfigurement, possibility of death, financial and social issues, and even the absence of family members during treatment/hospitalization (2,9,(17)(18)(19) . Other studies have shown a strong relationship between the family and the state of health and illness of their hospitalized members: that is, the family is extremely important in maintaining the health at all times of treatment, helping the patient to overcome feelings of anxiety (6,17,19,20) . Therefore, the absence of a family companion may have been one of the contributing factors to trait anxiety and state anxiety in moderate levels of the study participants.…”

“…These conditions may interfere with the treatment of malignant neoplasm; for example, patients with untreated anxiety or depression may be less likely to take their medication, continue the good health habits because of fatigue or lack of motivation, move away from family or other social support systems, which means that they will not ask for emotional and financial support needed to deal with cancer. All this, in turn, can result in increased anxiety (17,19) .…”

Is it Possible to use Acupressure to Reduce Adverse Effects Related to Radiotherapy?

“…Acupressure stimulation may also modulate the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system; this plays an important role in repair mechanisms and maintenance of homeostasis, which in turn is implicated in many chronic diseases. [3][4][5] Before and after surgery, it has been reported that acupressure reduces musculoskeletal pain, especially of the head, neck and back, and alleviates many other symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting and itching. It may also reduce the dose requirements of drugs and has therefore become a popular treatment option in oncology, though there are a limited number of academic studies in this area.…”

“…2 Finally, Beikmoradi et al recommended acupressure as a complementary therapy to reduce anxiety in cancer patients because of its low cost, safety and simplicity. 5 In summary, complementary approaches are being increasingly used in patients with cancer. Acupressure may release muscular tension, promote circulation of blood, and thereby relieve pain, strengthen immunity and promote healing.…”