The Effect of Acupressure on the Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Sleep
• Interventions: Other: Plasebo acupressure; Other: Acupressure

• Registration Number: NCT04800939
• Lead Sponsor: Mersin University

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effect of acupressure application on nurses' sleep quality and daytime sleepiness providing care in surgical clinics. This study hypothesizes that acupressure improves sleep quality and reduces daytime sleepiness.

Detailed Description

Methods: In the study, 60 nurses were randomly assigned to acupressure and placebo acupressure groups. To the acupressure group (n = 30), an average of 10 minutes will be applied to the Shen Men, the 7th acupoint (HT7) of the heart meridian located between the ulna and pisiform bones, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, and the Sanyinjia points on the splenic meridian (SP6) located on the inner side of the lower leg, four fingers above the ankle and behind the tibia. In the placebo acupressure group (n = 30), the points 1.5 cm away from the HT7 and SP6 points (four points in total) will be applied for an average of 10 minutes. The primary outcome of the research is the effect of acupressure on the sleep quality of nurses. The secondary outcome of the study is to determine the effect of acupressure on daytime sleepiness. The outcomes will be collected before and four weeks after the acupressure and placebo acupressure administration.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-03-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-03-14
• Study First Posted: 2021-03-16
• Study Start: 2021-03-28
• Primary Completion: 2021-04-15
• Study Completion: 2021-05-15
• Status Verified: 2022-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-11-07
• Last Update Posted: 2022-11-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

The experimental group criteria to be included in the study;

• Caring for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Working in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Agree to participate in the survey (those who signed the Informed Consent Form),
• Do not have physical problems that prevent acupressure application to HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (over four fingers of the ankle) points,
• No experience of acupressure,
• Not diagnosed with sleep disorder and not receiving medical treatment,
• No coffee, cigarette, and alcohol addiction,
• No mental illness,
• Working in the night shift,
• Don't work more than three-night shifts a week.

The control group criteria to be included in the study;

• Caring for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Working in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Agree to participate in the survey (those who signed the Informed Consent Form),
• Do not have physical problems that prevent acupressure application to points 1.5 cm away from HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (4 fingers above the ankle) points,
• No experience of acupressure,
• Not diagnosed with sleep disorder and not receiving medical treatment,
• No coffee, cigarette, and alcohol addiction,
• No mental illness,
• Working in the night shift,
• Do not work more than three-night shifts a week.

Exclusion Criteria

The experimental group criteria not to be included in the study;

• Do not care for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Do not work in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Do not agree to participate in the study,
• Having physical problems that prevent acupressure application to HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (over four fingers of the ankle) points,
• Diagnosed with sleep disorder and receiving medical treatment,
• Using drugs that cause sleep problems (antidepressants, analgesics, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Addicted to coffee, cigarette, and alcohol,
• With mental illness,
• Working more than three-night shifts a week,
• Working on a fixed day shift.

The control group criteria not to be included in the study;

• Do not care for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Do not work in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Do not agree to participate in the study,
• Having physical problems that prevent acupressure application to points 1.5 cm away from HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (4 fingers above the ankle) points,
• Diagnosed with sleep disorder and receiving medical treatment,
• Using drugs that cause sleep problems (antidepressants, analgesics, beta adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Addicted to coffee, cigarette, and alcohol,
• With mental illness,
• Working more than three-night shifts a week,
• Working on a fixed day shift.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo Acupressure Group	Plasebo acupressure	The control group will be given plasebo acupressure on their own, three times a week for four weeks, one hour before going to bed at night.
Acupressure Group	Acupressure	The experimental group will be given acupressure on their own, three times a week for four weeks, one hour before going to bed at night.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sleep quality evaluated using the Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index	Change from before implementation and 4th week of practice.	The total scale score is in the range of 0 (minimum) -21 (maximum), and the high total Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index (PSQI) score indicates that sleep quality is low. A total PSQI score between 0-4 indicates good sleep quality, while between 5-21 shows that sleep quality is low.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Daytime sleepiness evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale	Change from before implementation and 4th week of practice	This scale, which is a four-point Likert type, aims to evaluate the probability of sleepiness during the individual's daily life between 0-3 points. The scale score is in the range of 0 (minimum) -24 (maximum), and a total Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of 11 or above indicates excessive daytime sleepiness.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mersin University; 🇹🇷 Mersin, Yenişehir, Turkey