The Effects of Acupressure on Improving Health and Reducing Cost for Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Objectives. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of practicing acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints with a view to reduce anxiety and improve the comfort and physical health of patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Methods. A total of 100 hospitalized patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery were assigned randomly into the experimental (n = 49) and control groups (n = 51). Subjects in the experimental group received routine care plus acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints, while those in the control group received regular routine care. The data were collected using demographic information, physical and surgical data, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-A, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y Form (STAI-Y1), and Shortened General Comfort Questionnaire scores. The linear mixed model was used to examine the influences of acupressure on VAS-A and STAI-Y1 scores at different time points before and after the surgery to observe group-by-time interactions. Results. The mean age of the subjects was 60.97 years. All subjects had mild-to-moderate anxiety after surgery and showed a statistically significant decline in regression coefficients on the first and second days after the intervention (β = −11.61, p = 0.002; β = −18.71, p < 0.001). Similarly, for STAI-YI scores, the data showed a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test interactions between the two groups (β = 4.72, p = 0.031). Conversely, acupressure did not have a statistically significant difference on comfort (F = 2.953, p = 0.057). Compared with the control subjects, the experimental subjects used less morphine and developed side effects less frequently (p < 0.01). They were also able to get out of bed after surgery 163.79 min earlier (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Acupressure is a simple and easy-to-practice treatment. Acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints reduces anxiety and improves recovery in patients after undergoing thoracoscopic surgery.

Effect of acupressure applied to L4 point on the severity of fistula needle pain in patients: A randomised control trial

“…Patients generally use pharmacological treatment to reduce the symptoms they experience (Dikmen & Aslan, 2020;Evans, 2012). The aim of the literature on complementary therapies in chronic disease is to enable patients to use less pharmacological treatment, manage their symptoms, and increase their quality of life (Ang et al, 2021;Çevik & Taşcı, 2020;Hsu et al, 2022;Mucuk & Baser, 2014;Najafi et al, 2019). In one study, it was stated that acupressure application in dialysis patients alleviated the upper extremity pain experienced by patients after dialysis (Çevik & Taşcı, 2020).…”

“…Results demonstrated that acupressure application reduced the pain intensity of needle insertion in the intervention group rather than in the control group in this study. In the literature, acupressure application prevents the transfer of acute stimuli and increases the level of endorphins in the blood, thus, contributing to pain relief (Çevik & Taşcı, 2020; Hsu et al, 2022). In this study, the LI 4 point used is an important acupuncture point in reducing the sensation of pain, and previous studies have reported that it is effective in reducing labour pain, low back pain, menstrual pain, shoulder pain, and intramuscular injection pain.…”

“…The WHO's Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 guideline, states that complementary treatments are for the benefit of and important to patients and supports the integration of these treatments into health care services (WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy, 2014–2023). Nonpharmacological practices include acupuncture, acupressure, exercise, cold and hot practise, massage, hydrotherapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve (Çevik & Taşcı, 2020; Hsu et al, 2022). In recent years, the acupressure method, which is easy to apply and can be done by individuals other than health professionals, has been used in pain management, and studies have indicated that it is effective (Çevik & Taşcı, 2020).…”

“…Acupressure, a treatment in Chinese medicine, is often called ‘acupuncture without needles’; in this method, practitioners apply pressure with their's fingers to specific acupoints (Çevik & Taşcı, 2020; Hsu et al, 2022; Raddadi et al, 2017). Acupoint pressure energises myelinated nerve fibresfibres to stimulate the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to release endogenous opioids.…”

“…Acupoint pressure energises myelinated nerve fibresfibres to stimulate the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to release endogenous opioids. The treatment helps to increase the secretion of serotonin, endorphins, and norepinephrine and to lower serotonin and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, thereby reducing pain by regulating neurotransmitter concentrations (Çevik & Taşcı, 2020; Hsu et al, 2022). Acupressure has been shown in the literature to help manage symptoms such as insomnia, depression, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, and pain in the upper extremities and to improve the quality of life in participants (Abaraogu et al, 2016; Çevik & Taşcı, 2020; Eğlence et al, 2013; Hamidzadeh et al, 2012; Raddadi et al, 2017).…”