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Background: Pain in the knee joint area and reduced sleep quality are prevalent symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. This study examines the impact of self-administered acupressure on pain severity and sleep quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: In this trial conducted in 2023, 126 patients were enrolled. They completed a demographic characteristics form, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Afterward, they were randomly allocated to three groups: acupressure, sham, and control. While the control group received routine care, patients in the acupressure and sham groups were instructed to apply pressure on selected acupoints daily for one minute for a duration of one month. All participants completed the PSQI and the VAS one month after the intervention began and one month after it ended. Data analysis involved Fisher's exact tests, chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and one-way ANOVA tests. Also, per-protocol analyses were conducted with linear mixed-effects models. Results: No significant effects associated with group allocation were observed on pain VAS scores in acupressure and sham groups compared to the control group. However, participants in the acupressure group showed a significant decrease in pain VAS scores as time progressed. PSQI scores significantly decreased over time. Interaction effects showed that PSQI scores decreased more in the acupressure than in the control group over time. Finally, PSQI scores in the acupressure group demonstrated a significant decrease from pretest to follow-up, while no significant change was observed over time in the sham group. Conclusions: Self-administered acupressure may be useful in improving sleep quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This work may be informative in developing acupressure interventions with more effective outcomes in future research. Trial registration: This trial is registered on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials website with the identifier IRCT20211221053475N1 (Date: 10/01/2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ear acupressure therapy on obstetric and gynecological (OBGY) pain in women through a systematic review and meta-analysis, providing foundational data on complementary and alternative therapies. Methods: Using the PICO-SD framework, searches were conducted across seven electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE-OVID, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and RISS. The population (P) was women; the intervention (I) included ear acupressure, acupuncture, or auriculotherapy; the control (C) was usual obstetric care or placebo therapy; the outcome (O) was pain; and the study design (SD) was a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Revised Checklist for RCTs. Meta-regression and exclusion sensitivity analyses were also performed. Results: Sixteen studies were included, with a pooled overall effect size of Hedge’s g = −1.41 (95% confidence interval: −1.96 to −0.86). Meta- regression revealed that factors such as publication year, region, institutional review board approval, funding, sample size, type of pain, intervention type, tools, stimulus points, control group type, intervention duration, session count, session time, outcome measurement time, and quality assessment scores significantly influenced pain reduction. Conclusion: The findings confirm that ear acupressure therapy effectively reduces OBGY pain. However, given the variations in application methods and resulting differences in effectiveness, it is necessary to carefully consider factors such as tools, stimulus points, intervention methods, control group interventions, duration, session count, and session time when applying the therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized controlled study aims to investigate the effect of acupressure on pain and postpartum comfort following a cesarean section. The study was conducted with 60 women who underwent cesarean delivery. The participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. In the intervention group, acupressure was applied to the LI4, SP6, and P6 points for 15 minutes at the 2nd and 4th hours after the cesarean section. In the control group, acupressure was not applied and only routine nursing care was given. Data was collected using a personal information form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PCQ). Acupressure application was applied to the intervention group at the 2nd and 4th hour after cesarean section. All data collection forms were filled out by women in the intervention group before starting acupressure application at 2 hours after cesarean section. VAS was filled out again after acupressure application at 2 hours. VAS was filled out before and after acupressure application at 4 hours after cesarean section. PSQ was filled out in both groups before discharge. In the study, the intervention group's 2nd (3.03 ± 1.24, p <.001) and 4th (4.06 ± 1.22, p <.001) hour posttest VAS scores were lower and PCQ posttest scores (140.6 ± 9.01, p <.001) were higher than the control group. The results indicate that acupressure intervention applied to points LI4, SP6, and P6 was a useful nonpharmacological treatment for postpartum pain and comfort for the study group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coping with cancer presents a multitude of challenges that encompass every aspect of a patient's life. These challenges not only strain the body but also weigh heavily on the mind, often culminating in profound psychological distress for cancer patients. The cumulative burden of these experiences can heighten the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, exacerbating the already daunting landscape of cancer care. Therefore, this study reviewed the available research with the aim of investigating the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on psychological conditions in elderly cancer patients. In this scoping review, we applied specific criteria to select studies that focused on elderly patients with cancer. We performed an extensive search across electronic databases, including Embase, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. In our investigation, we identified a total of 3870 articles related to the topic under review. Following a meticulous screening process that involved evaluating titles, abstracts, and full texts, we ultimately selected five articles deemed relevant for inclusion in this review. Among these articles, three were randomised studies, while the remaining two were review articles. The outcomes of our analysis revealed that herbal decoctions, nutritional counselling, Tai Chi and acupressure, can effectively improve various psychological outcomes in elderly cancer patients. These interventions reduce fatigue, depression, anxiety, and stress, while also enhancing sleep quality and overall mental health. The present study highlights the importance of traditional Chinese medicine in addressing the needs of elderly patients with cancer. As a result, it is recommended that further extensive research be conducted to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in managing cancer in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug-dependent insomnia refers to insomnia patients taking sedatives and sleeping pills regularly for a long period. Auricular acupressure (AA) has attracted growing attention as a complementary treatment for insomnia. Nevertheless, there is a lack of rigorous studies evaluating AA specifically for estazolam-dependent insomnia. Our proposed trial aims to assess the therapeutic effect of AA on estazolam-dependent insomnia. Methods: This study is a randomized, single-blinded, three-arm controlled trial. No less than 108 participants will be randomized into one of three groups: AA group, sham auricular acupressure (SAA) group, and conventional dosage reduction group. All treatments will be administered for 4 weeks, with a follow-up period of 1 month. The primary clinical outcomes will be estazolam dosing and reduction rates, serum gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and cortisol (CORT) levels. Secondary outcomes will concern the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptom Questionnaire (BWSQ). Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed, with the significance level determined as 5%. Discussion: The study results will provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of AA in managing estazolam-dependent insomnia by analyzing its immediate effect, time-effect relationship, and reduction of estazolam use. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (identification number: NCT06258226; Registered 5 February 2024, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06258226). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: When young children experience recurrent respiratory infections, caregivers face the challenge of preventing new episodes whilst maintaining close rapport with their children. Pediatric massage, such as pediatric Tuina, entails soft massage of the skin, administered by trained providers. This non-pharmaceutical measure is used to prevent new respiratory infections in China. The aim of this study is to deepen our understanding of caregivers' experiences and perceptions of providing pediatric Tuina treatment to their children with recurrent respiratory tract infections. Methods: A qualitative study, based on semi-structured interviews, was conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Sixteen mothers from Southern China, whose children had received pediatric Tuina for recurrent respiratory tract infections, participated online. Analysis was conducted according to the principles of reflexive thematic analysis, using the NVivo qualitative research software. Results: The overarching theme was "Fostering embodied care with children". Caregivers assessed pediatric Tuina by hearing others' experiences of pediatric Tuina, as well as observing the manipulations on their child's body and their bodily reactions during pediatric Tuina sessions. Caregivers also closely observed children's bodily changes after pediatric Tuina sessions. Embodied attachment between children and adults was nurtured through the pediatric Tuina. Compared to other treatments or medical consultations, children were more relaxed and more involved in embodied care, which involved direct skin touching and verbal communication from the pediatric Tuina provider. Children also took the initiative to bring pediatric Tuina into their family life, by asking caregivers to perform it on them and mimicking the manipulations on the caregivers' hand. Conclusions: Pediatric Tuina served as a means of interaction between children and adults, fostering an embodied care on both a physical and emotional level. Beyond its potentially preventive effect on recurrent respiratory tract infections, pediatric Tuina could be a support for parents of children with recurrent or chronic disease at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racial and ethnic minority adolescents living in urban settings experience sleep disparities. Few interventions have been developed to address these disparities. Guided by principles of participatory design and inclusion, our team developed a novel intervention that combined sleep hygiene education with mind-body integrative health (MBIH) practices to improve sleep quality among adolescents in New York City. The goal of this article is to describe our iterative development and design process, the final product, and future directions. Our participatory approach incorporated information from formative work with adolescents having lived experience, practitioners, and syntheses of published literature. The final intervention—Sleeping Healthy, Living Healthy—consists of six, 40-minute group sessions and one 20-minute individual session designed for high school students. Each session has a set of learning objectives, combining instruction, group activities, and discussions on sleep hygiene and MBIH topics. Our manualized intervention includes handouts created by a graphic design team that served as a review and reminder for home practice. We describe intervention implementation to two unique cohorts and detail our methods used to fine-tune the intervention between cohorts. Our partnership with and insights from both adolescents and practitioners serve as a guide for researchers aiming to use participatory methods to develop interventions to decrease health disparities in specific populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Effective pain management has become more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spiritual emotional freedom technique (SEFT) can be one of the efforts to overcome acute and chronic pain because SEFT is an intervention that can overcome physical problems by combining spiritual and psychological energy through sincerity of prayer and surrender. Aim of this study was to analyse the effect of SEFT on pain during the COVID-19 pandemic and the difference in the effect of SEFT on pre- and post-intervention pain. Methods: The research method was a quasi-experiment with a pre-posttest group design. The study was conducted by assessing the pain scale before and after using the numeric rating scale (NRS). The sample size in the study was 98 respondents. Inclusion criteria were: patients experiencing acute or chronic pain, composed consciousness, being able to communicate well enough and being consistent with the stages of intervention. Exclusion criteria were, unconsciousness, patients diagnosed with COVID-19, shortness of breath, cognitive impairment and hearing loss. Results: Pain measured by NRS in respondents for the pretest was 2.40 (1.679) and the post-test was 1.39 (0.490) with the interpretation of mild pain. Pretest and post-test on respondents showed significant pain reduction (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.0001; Mann Whitney test, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Respondents experienced less pain after SEFT than before the intervention. The impact of the pain scale on respondents was different before and after SEFT [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemotherapy is a common treatment in childhood cancer but causes significant side effects, among the most notable being nausea and vomiting, known as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Pharmacological antiemetics and complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) have been studied separately to manage CINV, but a gap exists in understanding their use together. We aimed to investigate the potential multimodal effects of CIM and pharmacological antiemetics on CINV in pediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. Method: Systematic searches were conducted in four databases to identify studies evaluating the efficacy of CIM in combination with pharmacological antiemetics in patients ages 0–21 with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Relevant data were extracted from each study and evaluated. Results: Eighteen sources examining CIM therapies in three distinct categories (herbal, physical, and psychological) were identified. Three of four herbal interventions yielded significant results, all of which implemented oral ginger. Physical interventions included manual and wristband acupressure, auricular acupuncture, and needle and laser acupuncture. Significant results were found in only four of these 10 studies. Among psychological interventions, two of four yielded significant results. Discussion: There is no clear evidence of benefit from CIM therapies in addition to pharmacological antiemetics to better control CINV. However, this review provides support and direction for future research to examine potential effects. Complementary therapies generally have little potential for harm, are relatively low cost, and low burden. Therefore, if there is a perceived benefit for patients and families, complementary and integrative therapies should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Traditional Medical Complementary Therapies is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, which reduces the quality of life and causes depression. The present study was conducted with aim to compare the effect of acupressure and aromatherapy on depression and quality of life of breast cancer patients. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 96 women with breast cancer who visited the clinic or chemotherapy unit at Baqiyatullah and Shahid Chamran hospitals in Tehran were randomly assigned to three groups: aromatherapy, acupressure, and control. The data collection tool was the standard questionnaire for assessing the quality of life in breast cancer patients and Beck's depression questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 21) and ANOVA and paired t-test. Results: In terms of quality of life, both in functional and symptomatic dimensions, the aromatherapy and acupressure groups had significantly better performance than the control group (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). Additionally, both the aromatherapy and acupressure groups demonstrated a significant reduction in depression scores compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Aromatherapy and acupressure significantly improve quality of life and reduce depression in patients with breast cancer. These interventions can be utilized as complementary methods in managing the physical and psychological symptoms of these patients. Further research with larger sample size is needed to confirm the long-term efficacy and explore the broader applicability of these approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uremic pruritus, one of the most painful symptoms experienced by patients receiving dialysis, seriously affects patient quality of life and health, causes physical and mental damage, and increases hospitalization and mortality rates. Multi-modal therapies with evidence-based healthcare are needed to provide patients receiving dialysis with more convenient and feasible medical resources. Purpose: Relevant domestic and international research on the effectiveness and methods of non-invasive acupoint therapy in improving uremic pruritus in dialysis patients was reviewed. Discussing related knowledge can facilitate the evidence-based use of non-invasive acupoint therapy in clinical practice by clinical medical personnel. Methods: Based on the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) systematic literature review and integrated analysis method, a keyword search of related articles published before September 2023 was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Airiti Library, Taiwan Master and Doctoral Dissertation System, Chinese Journal Full-text Database and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform. In 2019, the second version of the Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials was used to evaluate research quality, after which RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0 suite software were used for meta-analysis. Results: Nine of the 112 articles selected, including 10 sets of data and 597 participants, were included in the metaanalysis. The results indicate non-invasive acupoint therapy significantly reduces the degree of uremic pruritus (synthetic effect size = -1.30, 95% confidence interval [-1.67, -0.93], p < .00001). Because the heterogeneity test I² = 76%, showed a high degree of heterogeneity, a subgroup analysis was performed, showing that acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing, a general simple itching assessment scale, and the Chinese region achieved better effect sizes. Conclusions/ Implications for Practice: Non-invasive acupoint therapy is easy to implement, inexpensive, non-invasive, and associated with few side effects. The authors hope these findings may increase the awareness and understanding of patients with dialysis regarding the practical operation techniques of itching acupoints. According to the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, massage of the lung and endocrine acupoints at ST-6, SP- 10, and LI-11 as well as the relevant points on the ear may be most effective in achieving urinary itching relief. Also, acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation, ST-6 far-infrared irradiation, or LI11 transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation can further relieve uremic pruritus in this patient population. Based on the results, acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing is a complementary method of treatment for uremic pruritus that may be recommended to patients in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses reported varying degrees of cognitive failure. To prioritize patient safety in clinical settings, it is important and necessary to address and mitigate the symptoms of cognitive failure among nurses. Aim: This study was conducted in Iran to evaluate the impact of ear acupressure on occupational cognitive failure in nurses. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 54 nurses who experienced cognitive failure in 2022. Sampling was performed by convenience. Fifty-six nurses who scored 40 or higher on the occupational cognitive failure questionnaire were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (28 subjects) or the sham group (28 subjects). In the intervention group, pressure was applied to the shen-men point, zero point, hippocampus, master cerebral, brain, and memory 1 and 2 of the earlobes for six weeks using Vaccaria seeds. In the sham group, a sticker without seeds was applied at the same points as in the intervention group, and no pressure was applied. Cognitive failure was assessed at the beginning of the study (T0), at the end of the intervention (sixth week of study, T1), and four weeks after the end of the intervention (tenth week of study, T2). The data were collected using contextual data questionnaires and the Occupational Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (OCFQ). The data obtained from 54 nurses (28 in the sham group and 26 in the intervention group) were analyzed by SPSS v16 using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: The two groups had no significant differences regarding background variables. The between-group analysis revealed a significant interaction effect of time and intervention on cognitive failure (F = 60.320, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.537). The cognitive failure score in the intervention group was significantly lower at the end of the intervention and one month later than that in the sham group (p < 0.001). Within-group analysis revealed a significant difference in the cognitive failure scores of the intervention group at T0, T1, and T2 (61.231 ± 14.230, 34.000 ± 14.659, and 29.808 ± 14.266, respectively; F = 52.331, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.677). However, in the sham group, the cognitive failure score exhibited a brief but significant increase at T0, T1, and T2 (54.786 ± 11.239, 56.250 ± 10.950, and 56.000 ± 11.337, respectively; F = 6.369, p = 0.006, effect size = 0.191). Conclusion: Auriculotherapy has shown promise in improving occupational cognitive failure in nurses. It is recommended that nurses consider incorporating auriculotherapy as a complementary treatment modality, particularly through self-treatment programs, when experiencing symptoms of cognitive impairment. Trial Registration Number (TRN): IRCT20100211003329N10 Date of registration: 04/11/2022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the joint guidelines developed by the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) regarding the use of integrative therapies to manage cancer-related symptoms. It provides evidence-based recommendations for complementary therapies, including acupuncture, mindfulness-based interventions, yoga, and t'ai chi, aimed at alleviating pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue associated with cancer treatment.

Background: 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. Method: 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. Result: In the acupressure group, both the anxiety score and pain level showed a substantial improvement (p < 0.001), but in the control group, only the anxiety score showed a significant improvement (p < 0.001). After the intervention, the difference in anxiety and pain scores between the two groups is statistically significant (p < 0.001). Furthermore, neither group's blood pressure nor pulse rate showed any significant changes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prediabetes and obesity in women are important health problems today. Appropriate selfmanagement and other methods are needed to overcome this. Objective: To assess the magnitude of the difference in changes in fasting blood glucose levels, before and after carrying out ADCES7 self-care behavior and acupressure. Method: This research is quasi-experimental research. The research design used was the Non-Randomized Pre Test - Post Test Control Group, which gathered obese, prediabetic women in the Kalumata Community Health Center, Siko Community Health Center and Posbindu under the PKK Ternate City through screening by excluding those who had suffered from diabetes mellitus and were pregnant. This group was then divided into the ADCES7 self care behavior intervention group, the acupressure group and the combined ADCES7 self care behavior and acupressure group. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess changes in fasting blood glucose levels. Results: Respondents in this study were 102 people who were divided into three groups. The results showed that there was an effect of Self Management intervention p(0.016)<0.05, acupressure intervention p(0.032)<0.05, and the combination group of Self Management and Acupressure p(0.011)<0.05 on changes in fasting blood glucose levels in prediabetic obese women. Conclusion: obese prediabetic women who are aware and active in self-management ACDES7 self care behavior and acupressure can reduce blood glucose levels and body weight in obese prediabetic women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroun d. Constipation is a common distressing problem in patients with schizophrenia that can cause complications and impair quality of life. Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of applying auricular acupressure (AA) treatment in improving constipation in patients with schizophrenia. Metho ds. A crossover randomized controlled trial design was performed from April 2022 to December 2023 at four psychiatric rehabilitation care centers. A total of 23 patients with schizophrenia received an AA intervention or usual care according to the designated treatment sequences. Measurements comprised subjective assessment of constipation by the Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire, an objective assessment of the stool pattern rated by a Bristol stool form scale, and heart rate variability. A generalized estimating equation model was used for data analyses. Result s. After completing an 8-week AA intervention stimulating the Shenmen, San Jiao, Large intestine and Rectum, the AA group exhibited lower scores in the PAC-SYM total score (difference = −12.66, , 0.001), and the subscales: abdominal (difference = −3.36, p <.001), rectal (difference = −3.51, p <.001), and stool (difference = −5.79, p <.001), compared to those receiving usual care. The cases of constipation indicated by type 1 and type 2 of the BSF scale significantly decreased after the 8-week AA intervention. Moreover, the AA group displayed more parasympathetic dominance compared to the usual care group, with a low frequency to high frequency ratio of −1.15. Conclusion. AA is an effective non-pharmacological method for improving subjective constipation symptoms and objective stool pattern in patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aim: Intramuscular injections represent a painful procedure for premature infants. This study aimed to compare the effects of pressure massage at Hegu point versus Kunlun–Taixi pressure points on pulse rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and crying duration following intramuscular injection of vitamin K in premature infants. Methods & Materials: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 100 premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between 2020 and 2021. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and then randomly assigned into four groups of 25 individuals each: Hegu point massage, Kunlun–Taixi points simultaneous massage, placebo and control. Prior to the vitamin K injection, the intervention groups received targeted pressure point massage, the placebo group received nasal tip massages, and the control group received standard care. Pulse rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and crying duration were recorded before, during and after the intramuscular injection using a pulse oximeter and chronometer. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS software version 24. Results: Significant differences were observed in average pulse rate (P=0.013) and average arterial oxygen saturation (P=0.028). The group receiving simultaneous massage at Kunlun–Taixi points exhibited the lowest mean pulse rates during (149.24±7.78) and after (144.16±8.64) the injection, as well as the highest mean arterial oxygen saturation percentages during (88.36±9.37) and after (88.04±8.33) the injection. Conclusion: Simultaneous massage of Kunlun–Taixi pressure points reduced changes in pulse rate and arterial oxygen saturation induced by intramuscular injection in premature infants. It is recommended to use this simple and lowpriced method to reduce the physiological responses to injection-related pain in premature newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Postpartum pain poses a significant challenge for new mothers. Various nonpharmacological methods are employed to manage postpartum pain. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acupressure on Spleen 6 and Hugo points on the severity of postpartum pain. Methods: In this parallel randomized trial study, 68 eligible primiparous women who had vaginal deliveries and experienced postpartum pain at Farabi Hospital in Malekan (a city in East Azarbaijan Province in Iran) were selected according to inclusion/exclusion criteria and then allocated to the Hugo (n = 34) and Spleen 6 (n = 34) acupressure groups using a randomized block design (six blocks). The data collection process took place from November 2022 to April 2023. The participants were blinded; however, the analysts and investigators were not blinded. Acupressure interventions were applied bilaterally for 20 min, consisting of 10 s of pressure followed by 2 s of rest. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual pain scale before, immediately after, and 1 h after the intervention. In total, 68 participants fulfilled the study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25 with chi‐square, Mann–Whitney, and Friedman tests. Results: Both groups exhibited a statistically significant reduction in postpartum pain intensity across all periods (p < 0.001). Although there was a significant difference in pain intensity between the groups before the intervention (p = 0.039), this distinction was not observed immediately and 1 h after the intervention (p ≥ 0.05). Both Hugo and Spleen's 6 acupressure interventions reduced postpartum pain intensity. No significant adverse events or side effects were observed. Conclusion: Acupressure on Spleen 6 and Hugo points helped decrease the severity of postpartum pain in primiparous women who had vaginal deliveries. Healthcare providers are encouraged to consider acupressure for postpartum pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of shiatsu back massage on chemo-radiation-induced Pain Among elderly women with cervical cancer. 60 elderly women, ages varying from 60 years and above, with cervical cancer were selected randomly at Government Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital (T.N.). Elderly women with cervical cancer were divided into two groups-experimental (N=30), and control (30), by lottery method. The pretest level of chemo-radiationinduced pain was assessed by using the numerical pain scale in both groups was perceived as severe. A Shiatsu back massage of 10 minutes per day for 4 weeks was given to the experimental group. The control and experimental groups'post-test mean difference was 1.63. This difference is large and significant. It was tested using student independent t-test. In the Experimental group the Mann-Whitney U- test t= 9.52 which was highly significant at P < 0.001 level. There was no significant association between pre and post-test levels of Chemo-radiation-induced Pain with selected demographic variables. Elderly women with cervical cancer who had undergone shiatsu back massage had a statistically significant in reducing Chemo-radiation pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complications from hemodialysis lead to physical problems and pain that lower quality of life (QOL). by contrasting the effects of acupressure and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain and quality of life intra dialysis. In hemodialysis patients, both may lessen discomfort and enhance quality of life; however, further studies are required to determine which is more beneficial. The Aim of research: The main aim of this research was to compare between effect of Acupressure and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation [TENS] on pain and quality of life intra dialysis. Methodology: A cohort of sixty men, ages 50 to 60, who had hemodialysis were included in the study. They were chosen from the hemodialysis unit of the Maghagha Central Hospital in Minya. Patients were split equally into groups A and B. Group A received acupressure treatments three times a week. For eight weeks, Group B received TENS three times a week. the pain pressure threshold (PPT), the (BPI) brief pain inventory and The KDQOL [SF-36] questionnaire were used to evaluate them. Results: Comparing the pre- and post-study results showed that both groups' their pain pressure threshold increased significantly, Both groups' short pain inventory scaling decreased and QOL as measured by the KDQOL [SF-36] questionnaire improved as well. but TENS had a more statistically significant advantage over Acupressure and more effective in relieving pain and improving quality of life QOL. Conclusion: From results of the current research, it supports the application of TENS has more significant effect than Acupressure in relieving pain, improving quality of life intra dialysis. It is preferable to use both together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The role of current pharmacological treatment after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is limited. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after LSG remains high. Auricular acupressure (AA) is believed to relieve PONV after laparoscopic surgeries, but its role in patients with obesity after LSG has yet to be confirmed. Methods: Ninety-five female patients who underwent LSG were randomized into two groups: AA combined with conventional anti-nausea medication (AA group, 47 patients) or conventional anti-nausea medication group (control group, 48 patients). Index of nausea and vomiting and retching (INVR) scores, postoperative anti-vomiting medication use, time of first anus exhausting, time of first fluid intake, and time of first to get out of bed were collected within 48 h after surgery. Results: Demographic data of patients in both groups were balanced and comparable. INVR score (F = 7.505, P = 0.007), vomiting score (F = 11.903, P = 0.001), and retching score (F = 12.098, P = 0.001) were significantly lower in the AA group than that in the control group within 48 h postoperatively. Use of metoclopramide was significantly less in the AA group than in the control group (4.7 [5.5]) vs. 8.8 [7.6], P = 0.004); time to first anus exhausting was significantly less in the AA group than in the control group (17.50 [6.00] vs. 20.42 [8.62], P = 0.020). Conclusions: AA combined with conventional anti-vomiting agents can alleviate PONV in female patients after LSG, and AA can promote gastrointestinal exhaustion. Trial Registration: The trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) with the registration no. ChiCTR2100047381 on June 13, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a widely prevalent endocrine disorder. The multifaceted clinical presentation of PCOS requires a comprehensive approach, addressing not only the biological aspects but also holistic dimensions, encompassing psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual factors for optimal clinical outcomes. Current management primarily emphasizes the biological dimension, utilizing pharmaceutical interventions and some lifestyle modifications. Despite promising outcomes, the precise approach, rationale, and efficacy of naturopathy and yoga in PCOS management have not been thoroughly investigated. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using various databases to identify relevant studies. The evidence gathered was synthesized and organized around the following key themes: consultation, nutrition, fasting, herbs, elemental therapies, massage, yoga, acupuncture, and sustainable health principles. While this review provides insights that could enhance the understanding of the naturopathic approach in PCOS management, it emphasizes the need for future clinical trials and systematic reviews to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of auricular acupressure on lung function, sleep quality and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Background: Auricular acupressure has been increasingly used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, such as lung function and sleep quality, but the efficacy has not yet been unified. Design: A meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials. Methods: Randomised controlled trials comparing auricular acupressure intervention with non‐auricular acupressure intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were included. We searched English databases and Chinese databases from the inception to 26 December 2022. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The PRISMA statement was used to report a meta‐analysis. Results: A total of 12 randomised controlled trials with 987 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were included. The meta‐analysis showed that auricular acupressure had significant differences in improving lung function, including FEV1 (MD = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.37, p <.0001), FVC (MD = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.34, p <.0001) and FEV1/FVC (MD = 4.70, 95% CI: 3.63 to 5.78, p <.0001). There was also a positive effect on sleep quality (MD = −0.71, 95% CI: −0.89 to −0.53, p <.0001) and quality of life (MD = −3.20, 95% CI: −3.92 to −2.49, p <.0001). Conclusions: The results indicated auricular acupressure had a positive efficacy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to improve lung function, sleep quality and quality of life, but these results should be treated with caution due to the low quality of included studies. Future researchers need to conduct more high‐quality randomised controlled trials to provide a solid basis to demonstrate the efficacy of auricular acupressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Relevant to Clinical Practice: Auricular acupressure has the advantages of being non‐invasive, convenient and without significant side effects. This review suggested auricular acupressure could be considered a non‐pharmacological intervention for patients. Clinical nurses can teach chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to perform auricular acupressure to help self‐manage complications. Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the advantages of adding acupuncture to standard postoperative pain management for open radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial (1:1:1) comparing routine postoperative analgesic care (control [CON]) vs the addition of press tack needle acupuncture (ACU) or press tack placebo acupressure (SHAM) for pain management after open RP was performed. A total of 126 patients were enrolled between February 2020 and April 2021. After open RP, the CON group received standard postoperative analgesia, the ACU group received long‐term acupuncture with press tacks at specific points (P‐6, Shenmen and SP‐6) along with standard analgesia, and the SHAM group received placebo press tacks at the same acupuncture points alongside standard analgesia. The primary endpoint was postoperative pain measured on a numeric rating scale, the NRS‐11, calculated as the area under the curve. The cumulative use of routine postoperative analgesics, time to first defaecation, and quality of life were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson's chi‐squared test. Results: The ACU group reported significantly less postoperative pain compared to the SHAM (P = 0.007) and CON groups (P = 0.02). There were no significant difference in median (interquartile range) cumulative pain medication usage, time to first defaecation (CON: 37 [33, 44] h; SHAM: 37 [33, 42] h; ACU: 37 [33, 41] h; P > 0.9), or health status at discharge (EuroQol five‐dimension, five‐level general health assessment questionnaire: CON: 70 [65–83]; SHAM: 70 [60–80]; ACU: 70 [50–80]). Conclusion: Incorporating acupuncture into postoperative pain management can improve patient postoperative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypertension is the most dominant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the most frequent cause of deaths all over the world. Patients' hypertension requires nonpharmacological interventions as an integral part of case management. Complementary and alternative medicine are recognized and accepted in several countries, also could be recommended for lowering blood pressure. The aim of this study is to explore the most popular method of CAM used for hypertension. Method: This study was conducted by searching online databases between 2012 - 2022, using PRISMA 2020 to find specific articles. The PICOT framework that be used: adult with hypertension, complementary use, blood pressure. Articles were sourced from Elsevier, Plos One, NIH, Lancet, BMC, Sage, Springer, Wiley, Lippincott, and Garuda. The researcher obtained 23 articles for final review, with inclusion criteria for people with hypertension that use CAM as a therapy to prevent elevated blood pressure. Result: 10 articles were RCT, 7 articles were cross sectional, 4 articles were experiments, 1 article was cohort, and 1 article was mixed method. The result showed that the CAM was effective in lowering blood pressure. People with hypertension most often used herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, acupressure, yoga, meditation, tai chi, reflexology, guided imagery, and aromatherapy oil (in sequentially). Conclusion: Perception/belief, lack of information, experience and culture affect people's behavior in choosing medical drugs over CAM. Therefore, health care should promote CAM and provide patients with non-pharmacological intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The existing literature has limited detail on theory-driven interventions, particularly in pain studies. We adapted Bandura's self-efficacy framework toward a theory-driven, non-pharmacological intervention using auricular point acupressure (APA) and evaluated participants' perceptions of this intervention on their pain self-management. APA is a non-invasive modality based on auricular acupuncture principles. Methods: We mapped our study intervention components according to Bandura's key sources of self-efficacy (performance accomplishments, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and emotional arousal) to facilitate the self-management of pain. Through a qualitative study design, we conducted virtual interviews at one and three months after a 4-week APA intervention among 23 participants using purposive sampling to describe their experiences in managing their pain based on our theory-driven APA intervention. Results: Using thematic analyses, we found four themes: the enhanced self-management of pain, improved pain outcomes, the feasibility of technology, and the sustainability of APA. Conclusions: Describing how interventions are mapped according to the elements of theoretical frameworks can help to guide intervention development, advance science and knowledge development, and promote the implementation of interventions. As such, using Bandura's self-efficacy theory as a foundation for the APA intervention, APA was found to be feasible and sustainable, improving self-management, pain intensity, and pain-related outcomes. Participants provided recommendations for the further improvement of this theory-driven intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thirst is one of the main stressors that reduce the comfort of critically ill patients connected with a noninvasive laryngeal mask. It can cause significant distress and stress, which can increase oxygen consumption and the metabolic burden of their organs, and may even induce delirium, thus affecting recovery. Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing nursing measures on thirst perception among patients in chest intensive care units. Design: A quasi-experimental study design. Setting: This study was conducted at the Chest Intensive Care Unit in Tanta University Chest Hospital affiliated to Tanta University Hospitals. Subjects: A purposive sample of 60 adult patients admitted to the previously mentioned setting. Tools: three tools were used in order to obtain the necessary data for this study: Tool I: Patient’s Interview Schedule, tool II: Subjective Thirst Perception Scale and tool III: Objective Thirst Assessment Sheet. Results: there was a statistical significant decrease in thirst perception in both control and study group on the third day in which p = 0.049* and 0.045* respectively. Additionally, there was statistical significant decrease in thirst perception in control versus study group on the third day in which p =0.043*. Conclusion: The results of the current study concluded that there was a significant decrease of thirst perception among critically ill patients after implementing nursing measures in ICU. Recommendations: It can be recommended that using nursing measures as a part of the daily care in managing patients' complains of thirst in ICU is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of auricular acupressure on dry eye syndrome, stress, and depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods: This single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted among 42 people aged 65 years or older who experienced stress and had an Ocular Surface Disease Index score of 13 or higher. Auricular acupressure using vaccaria seeds was applied to both ears for 3 weeks at several acupoints, including the shenmen, liver, heart, endocrine system, eye, and anterior lobe areas. In the placebo group, blank patches were applied to the hip, lumbar vertebrae, shoulder, and cervical vertebrae points. The measures used were the Dry Eye Syndrome Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, salivary cortisol levels, electrodermal activity measured using a Fitbit device, and a depression scale. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the groups for dry eye syndrome (t=3.442, p=.002), perceived stress (t=3.455, p=.001), salivary cortisol (z=-3.703, p<.001), and depressive symptoms (t=2.113, p=.043). Conclusion: Auricular acupressure improved in dry eye syndrome, perceived stress, salivary cortisol levels, and depressive symptoms in older adults. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative nursing intervention for dry eye syndrome, stress, and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure on the severity of urinary incontinence, quality of life, and sleep quality in elderly women with stress urinary incontinence Methods: This single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study included 53 subjects. The participants were elderly women with stress urinary incontinence. The experimental period was a total of 6 weeks, and four different acupressure sites were applied for each group; the experimental group (n=27) received auricular acupressure on the kidney, bladder, central rim, anterior lobe, whereas the placebo-control group (n=26) received acupressure on the wrist, elbow, helix 2, and helix 3. In order to examine the effects of the auricular acupressure intervention, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The ICIQ-UI SF scores and the PSQI scores in the experimental group with auricular acupressure significantly decreased after 6 weeks (p<.001) compared with the scores of the placebo-control group. The I-QOL scores in the experimental group significantly increased after 6 weeks (p<.001) compared with the scores of the placebo-control group. Conclusion: Auricular acupressure was effective for mitigating the severity of urinary incontinence and improving the quality of life and sleep after 6 weeks. Therefore, auricular acupressure can be used as a non-pharmacological nursing intervention for elderly women with stress urinary incontinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that causes neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy causes severe pain and needs therapy to relieve its pain. In Indonesia, the therapy uses paracetamol, sometimes combined with acupressure. However, the efficacy of the combination therapy needs to be better understood. Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the efficacy of paracetamol vs paracetamol combined with acupressure for pain relief in diabetic neuropathy patients. Materials and methods: This study used a cross-sectional study design. Total of 70 participants were agreed to involved in this study. The patients were then interviewed, and their visual analogue scale was assessed. The data was then analysed statistically using Pearson's correlation. Result: Out of the 70 patients diagnosed with type II DM, 40 had Diabetic Neuropathic Pain (DNP). Shockingly, most of the patients with type II DM and DNP were females, accounting for 33 out of 40 cases (82.50%). The study found a significant correlation between the type of therapy and the decrease in VAS scores for diabetic patients with neuropathic pain (p=0.05). Patients treated with paracetamol and acupressure showed more improvement in the VAS score than those treated with only paracetamol. Conclusion: The study suggests that the combination treatment could benefit DNP as an analgesic for type II DM patients. Advanced study is required to be performed using larger samples so that accurate data can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Auricular acupressure influences pain reduction in patients with diseases. However, study results on its influence on breast pain, common among breastfeeding mothers, are insufficient. Research Aim: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of auricular acupressure on breast pain among breastfeeding mothers who also received a standard gentle hand technique. Methods: This was a placebo-controlled study wherein auricular acupressure was provided for 4 weeks to 52 breastfeeding mothers consulting a local breastfeeding clinic. In the intervention group, auricular acupressure was applied to specific acupoints, including Shenmen, central rim, breast, and endocrine, which are related to breast pain and postpartum lactation. For the placebo control group, auricular acupressure was applied to acupoints not related to breast pain. The degree of breast pain was assessed using a numeric rating scale and a pressure algometer. Results: After 4 weeks of auricular acupressure, numeric rating scale pain scores did not show a significant change. However, the pressure pain threshold for the upper left (Z = −2.202, p =.028) and upper right (t = 2.613, p =.012) areas of the right breast increased significantly in the intervention group. Conclusion: This study employed subjective and objective measurements to evaluate the efficacy of auricular acupressure in alleviating breast pain. The intervention shows potential as a nursing measure. Further research is required to determine the optimal intervention duration and frequency, particularly for breastfeeding parents with severe pain, and to evaluate long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review to determine the nature, variety, and volume of empirical evidence on nonpharmacological interventions for sleep disturbances with potential implications for fatigue in adults sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A systematic literature search was conducted across four databases to identify primary studies testing a single non-pharmacological intervention or a combination of non-pharmacological interventions for sleep disturbances and fatigue in community-dwelling adults with TBI. Sixteen studies were reviewed addressing six non-pharmacological interventions for sleep disruptions and fatigue after TBI including light therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, warm footbath application, shiatsu, and sleep hygiene protocol. Non-pharmacological interventions involving light or cognitive-behavioral therapy were reported in 75% of the studies. Actigraphy-based estimation of total sleep time and subjective level of fatigue were frequent outcomes. While this scoping review has utility in describing existing non-pharmacological approaches to manage sleep and fatigue after TBI, the findings suggest that interventions are often developed without considering TBI individuals' source of motivation and the need for support in self-administration. Future studies may achieve greater sustainability by considering the evolving needs of TBI patients and their families and the drivers and barriers that might influence non-pharmacological intervention use at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Nicotine withdrawal symptoms (NWS) are the main impediments to the quitting attempt. The present study investigated the effectiveness of specific auricular acupressure combined with medication and medical advice to quit smoking. Materials and Methods: Two hundred eighty-two patients voluntarily participated in a smoking cessation program at the Smart Quit Clinic, Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group (n=141) receiving specific auricular acupressure and the control group (n=141) receiving non-specific auricular acupressure. Five specific auricular acupressure points, including shenmen, lung, mouth, stomach, and sympathetic, were used to treat NWS. Each point was pressed with Wang Bu Liu Xing for one minute. The acupressure was applied three times a day for 12 weeks. The succession of cessation was assessed using carbon monoxide (CO) levels in exhaled breath and relief of NWS. Results: The success of smoking cessation in the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group after cessation at weeks 12 and 24. Specific auricular acupressure such as shenmen, lung, mouth, stomach, and sympathetic, could reduce anxiety, craving on smoking, insomnia, and nervous symptoms since the first week after cessation. Conclusion: Specific auricular acupressure using Wang Bu Liu Xing is an effective and safe treatment method for relieving NWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) are not only considered to be a sign of discomfort both culturally and clinically but also seen as potential safety risks for mothers and their unborn children. One of the non-pharmacological complementary therapies was the use of acupressure. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness, safety, and satisfaction of the dual method of P6 acupressure as an intervention in affected pregnant women to reduce NVP and explore the method P6 acupressure perception as the intervention of choice in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was conducted which consisted of two phases: quantitative followed by qualitative. The first phase involved the recruitment of 120 pregnant women with moderate to severe NVP symptoms. Six participants were in the intervention group qualitative phase. RESULTS: The Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) scores of participants in the intervention group were lower compared to that of the control group after the intervention period (p=<0.01). The PUQE score was found to be reduced in the intervention group of having severe into having mild symptoms. There were no adverse effects reported after the intervention. Majority of the participants were satisfied after using the dual P6 acupressure method (Z=1830, p<0.01). Meanwhile, during the qualitative phase, six themes emerged. CONCLUSION: A dual method of P6 acupressure therapy could be effective, safe, and satisfactory in relieving NVP. Therefore, maternity care providers may consider using this method as a therapeutic alternative for the management of NVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupressure on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Springer, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for all randomized controlled trials (RCT) of treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy by acupressure from the inception date of database to July 31st, 2023. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by researchers. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated by the Cochrane Collaboration's bias risk assessment tool, meta-analysis by Stata 17.0 software, and publication bias by Begg's test. Results: A total of 11 RCTs involving 1378 pregnant women were included in this review, which was assessed to be moderate quality. 10 RCTs involving 1298 pregnant women were assessed for the meta-analysis. The results revealed that acupressure showed significant difference on improvement in symptom score compared with sham acupressure (pooled MD, − 1.33; 95%CI [− 2.06, − 0.61]; P < 0.001) or control group (pooled MD, − 0.73; 95%CI [− 1.08, − 0.39]; P < 0.001), and incidence of effective rate compared with sham acupressure group (pooled RR, 1.78; 95%CI [1.03, 3.07]; P = 0.039). However, no statistical significance was found between acupressure and control group (pooled RR, 4.53; 95%CI [0.67, 30.48]; P = 0.120) on effective rate. On comparing acupressure with sham acupressure, there was no beneficial effect on preventing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (pooled RR, 0.83; 95%CI [0.50, 1.38]; P = 0.476), shortening the duration of hospital stay (pooled MD, − 0.78; 95%CI [− 1.98, 0.41]; P = 0.199) and improving patient satisfaction (pooled RR, 1.36; 95%CI [0.47, 3.91]; P = 0.570). Begg's test did not reveal any publication bias. Only one RCT reported minimal acupressure-related adverse events. Conclusion: Acupressure may have potential favorable or encouraging effect on treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, but strong supportive data are not yet available. Well-designed and large-scale RCTs should be conducted for assessing and confirming the efficacy and safety of acupressure in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Acupuncture and related acupoint therapies have been widely used for smoking cessation. Some relevant systematic reviews (SRs) have been published. There is a need to summarize and update the evidence to inform practice and decision-making. METHODS Eight databases were searched from their inception to December 2023. SRs, any randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture therapies with sham acupuncture, pharmacotherapy, behavioral therapy, or no treatment, were included. The primary outcome was the abstinence rate. AMSTAR-2 was employed to assess the quality of SRs. An updated meta-analysis was conducted based on SRs and RCTs. Data were synthesized using risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The GRADE approach was employed to assess the certainty of the updated evidence. RESULTS Thirteen SRs and 20 RCTs outside of the SRs were identified. The SRs were of low or very low quality by AMSTAR-2. Sixteen (80%) RCTs were at high risk of performance bias. Eight acupuncture and related acupoint therapies were involved. The short-term (≤6 months) abstinence rate outcome was summarized as follows. Most SRs suggested that filiform needle acupuncture or acupressure had a better effect than sham acupuncture, but the findings were inconsistent. The updated meta-analysis also suggested that filiform needle acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture (RR=1.44; 95% CI: 1.02-2.02; I2 = 66%; low certainty; 9 RCTs, n=1358). Filiform needle acupuncture combined with acupressure was comparable to nicotine patches (RR=0.99; 95% CI: 0.74-1.32; low certainty; 6 RCTs, n= 524). Acupressure was superior to counseling (RR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.14-1.87; I2=5%; low certainty; 8 RCTs, n=595). No serious adverse events were reported in these SRs or RCTs. CONCLUSIONS Low certainty evidence suggests that filiform needle acupuncture and auricular acupressure appear to be safe and effective in achieving short-term smoking cessation. However, long-term follow-up data are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study conducted in Indonesia on the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation and acupressure therapy in reducing back pain in pregnant women during the third trimester. The study found that both interventions were effective, but progressive muscle relaxation therapy was more effective. Pregnant women can perform progressive muscle relaxation themselves when experiencing back pain. The article also provides background information on the physiological changes and discomforts experienced by pregnant women and highlights the prevalence and impact of back pain during pregnancy. Additionally, the document is a list of references to various research articles on topics related to women's health, pregnancy, and pain management, providing valuable insights from researchers around the world. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Patients usually feel pain when a needle is inserted into the fistula. This acute pain can be relieved by acupressure, which is a nonpharmacological application method. Objective: This study was designed to explore the effect of acupressure application to the Hegu point on the severity of acute pain caused by fistula needle insertion in patients with antecubital arteriovenous fistula. Design: It is a randomised control study. Participants: The study was conducted with 32 intervention and 32 control patients, recruited from a dialysis centre of a foundation university in Turkey between October 2021 and January 2022. Measurements: Acupressure was applied 3 min before needle placement in the fistula area of the patients in the experimental group. Result: While there was no decrease in the severity of acute pain during fistula needle insertion in the patients in the control group, there was a significant decrease in the mean acute pain severity scores experienced by the patients in the experimental group, whose Hegu point acupressure was applied. Conclusion: The results of this study support the effectiveness of Hegu point acupressure as an effective and low‐cost way to reduce the acute pain of needle insertion put on dialysis patients with a fistula. In addition, the results provide a practical reference for acute pain management for dialysis nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is poorly understood, widespread and debilitating. Integrative medical group visits (IMGVs) provide group medical care virtually or in person and are reimbursed by insurance payors. IMGV introduces integrative modalities such as mindfulness, nutrition, and acupressure in a person-centered, supportive, and educational environment. To evaluate a telehealth IMGV program called Nourish to Flourish (N2F) for patients with long COVID, three researchers conducted a qualitative analysis of pre- and post-group individual interviews. Twenty-five patients provided interviews, of which fifteen included pre- and post-group individual interviews. Main themes were unpredictable symptom patterns, a common range of emotions associated with long COVID experience, reconceptualizing self-identity, multiple barriers to care in conventional settings, and connections formed in N2F. Although symptoms varied, N2F participants found commonalities in their experiences of living with long COVID. They empathized with one another regarding changing symptoms, inconsistent social support, shifting identities, and barriers to effective medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ON-freezing of gait (ON-FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD), often resistant to medication, is linked to sensory deficits and proprioceptive impairment, and results in falls and reduced life quality. While visual cues from a laser cane (LC), which rapidly accesses the motor cortex, are commonly used to compensate for proprioceptive impairment, increased visual reliance may be affected by disease progression. Emerging evidence suggests that modulation of peripheral sensory processing may alleviate ON-FOG, and therapeutic Thai acupressure (TTA) may be a solution. This study aims to evaluate the effect of TTA in alleviating ON-FOG and compare its effectiveness to LC in patients with PD. Methods: This open-label, non-inferiority trial randomized 90 PD patients with ON-FOG equally into three arms: TTA for plantar nerve stimulation for 96 s, LC for visual cueing, and sham control (SC). Stride length was the primary noninferiority endpoint [non-inferiority margin: lower limit of 95% confidence interval (CI) above -10 cm in mean change difference in pre- and immediately post-intervention in TTA versus LC (one-sided)]. Secondary outcomes included FOG episodes, double support time, velocity, cadence, step length, timed up and go (TUG) test, and visual analog scale (VAS) score. Results: TTA showed non-inferiority to LC in stride length (mean = -0.7 cm; 95% CI: -6.55; 5.15) (one-sided). The improvements with TTA and LC versus SC were comparable between (mean = 13.11 cm; 95% CI: 7.26; 18.96) and (mean = 13.8 cm; 95% CI: 7.96; 19.65) (one-sided). Secondary outcomes favored TTA and LC over SC with improved FOG, velocity, step length, and VAS scores, while only TTA resulted in improved double support time, cadence, and TUG test results. No complications occurred. Conclusion: The efficacy of TTA, which improves stride length, is non-inferior to that of LC and consequently alleviates FOG comparable to LC. TTA might enhance proprioceptive function and reduce visual dependence. Therefore, TTA, characterized by its non-invasive, simple, and safe techniques, is a potential non-pharmacological alternative for ON-FOG treatment and might enhance overall quality of life. However, further research into the mechanism, efficacy, and utilization of TTA is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of auricular acupressure therapy on pruritus, skin dryness, and depression in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This was a randomized control group pre-post experimental study. Fifty-four patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at a single center voluntarily participated in the study. Twenty-seven participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group, to whom auricular acupressure was applied to five designated acupoints (shenmen, heart, kidney, lung, and occiput) for 5 weeks. The control group (n=27) received no intervention for the first 5 weeks, and the auricular acupressure intervention was administered due to ethical considerations after 5 weeks. Pruritus, pruritus-related sleep disturbance, and depression were scored accordingly. Skin dryness was assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum hydration (SCH) levels. Results: Auricular acupressure therapy significantly reduced pruritus (z=-3.97, p<.001) and pruritus-related sleep disturbance (z=-2.97, p=.003) in the experimental group. TEWL showed a significant reduction in the arm (z=-2.23, p=.026) and body (z=-1.97, p=.049) but not in the leg. There were no differences in SCH levels and depression (z=-0.35, p=.721). Conclusion: Auricular acupressure therapy effectively alleviated pruritus and skin dryness. This study confirmed the safety and effectiveness of auricular acupressure therapy as a viable intervention for pruritus in hemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupressure mats are promoted as stress management tools for easy and effective self‐application, promising reduced stress and increased well‐being. However, the scientific evidence for these effects is based on few experimental studies and lacks the examination of acupressure mats as a solitary relaxation tool. Our study aimed to examine which changes in stress and well‐being can be expected from the use of acupressure mats by healthy young people on the subjective and psychophysiological level. Unexperienced participants practiced relaxation for three weeks either with an acupressure mat or without any tools (active control group [CG]). As a results, subjective well‐being and stress decreased, while sleep quality and concentration endurance increased across groups. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), pain threshold and pain tolerance did not change significantly from pre‐ to post‐training measurements. Most importantly, no significant differences were found between groups, indicating that training with an acupressure mat yielded no superior effects compared with an active control condition in healthy young students. As a conclusion, taking time to relax has some but limited beneficial effects on the subjective levels independent of the specific method for healthy students. Potential beneficial effects of acupressure mats might be bound to specific impairments, such as tension pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the widespread use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as a treatment for kidney stones, it is essential to apply methods to control pain and improve patient comfort during this procedure. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of acupressure at the Qiu point on pain intensity and physiological indices in patients undergoing ESWL. Methods: This randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial was conducted at the Shahid Beheshti Educational-medical Center in Hamadan City (western Iran) from May to August 2023. Seventy-four eligible patients were split into intervention (n = 37) and sham (n = 37) groups. Ten minutes before lithotripsy, the intervention group received acupressure at the Qiu point, while the sham group received touch at a neutral point. The primary outcomes were pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and physiological indices such as blood pressure and heart rate at baseline, 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min after the intervention. The secondary outcomes included lithotripsy success and satisfaction with acupressure application. Results: The analysis of 70 patients showed no significant differences in the demographic and clinical information of the patients across the two groups before the study (P > 0.05). Generalized estimating equations revealed that the interaction effects of time and group in pain and heart rate were significant at 30 and 40 min (P < 0.05). The results of this analysis for systolic blood pressure revealed a significant interaction at 30 min (P = 0.035). However, no significant interaction effects were found for diastolic blood pressure changes (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Acupressure at the Qiu point positively impacts pain in patients undergoing ESWL treatment and increases their satisfaction. However, these results for physiological indices require further studies. Thus, acupressure can be considered a simple, easy, and effective option for pain management in patients during this procedure. Trial registration: [https://en.irct.ir/trial/69117], identifier [IRCT20190524043687N4]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, non-pharmacological treatments are gaining increasing importance for improving the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting extensive research on Chuna manual therapy (CMT). This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of CMT adjuvant to Western medicine (WM) in patients with COPD. Forty patients with COPD were randomized into two groups in a 1:1 ratio: experimental (CMT plus WM) and control (WM only) groups. The CMT intervention was administered once a week for eight weeks. The primary outcome measured was the 6-min walk distance (6MWD). Secondary outcomes measured were: forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), assessments using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for dyspnea, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the EuroQoL five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D). The mean differences in FEV1 (L) between Weeks 1 and 8 were statistically significant between the groups (p = 0.039). Additionally, the experimental group showed improved 6MWD, mMRC, VAS for dyspnea, CAT, SGRQ (total), and EQ-VAS scores than the control group. However, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. No adverse events were observed during this trial. CMT has the potential to alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and delay the decline in lung function in patients with COPD. The results of this pilot study could lead to large-scale clinical trials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although acupressure is proposed to boost sleep quality and alleviate anxiety in various disorders, no trials have yet documented these consequences in burn victims. Considering the high importance of managing sleep quality and anxiety among burn patients utilizing adjunctive non-pharmacological measures, this study sought to investigate the impacts of acupressure on sleep quality and anxiety among a population of Iranian patients with burn injuries. Methods: This trial was performed on 72 patients with second- or third-degree burns, who were divided into two equal arms to receive routine care plus 10-minute acupressure on either real acupoints (i.e., Yintang and Shen men) or sham points for three consecutive nights. Sleep quality and anxiety were investigated at baseline (T1) and on the fourth day (T2) by using St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMHSQ) and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for State Anxiety (STAI-S), respectively. Results: The mean scores of SMHSQ and STAI-S were significantly lower in the real acupressure arm at T2 (P < 0.001 in two cases), implying better sleep quality improvement and higher anxiety alleviation. Also, the reduction in mean changes of SMHSQ and STAI-S scores from T1 to T2 was significantly more in the real acupressure arm (P < 0.001 in two cases). Conclusion: Acupressure, as a low-cost complementary method, could be potentially helpful in enhancing sleep quality and decreasing the anxiety of burn patients. Additional long-term trials are required to identify the sustainability of the findings. Trial Registration No: IRCT20130424013110N13 (Registration date: 19/03/2021, https://www.irct.ir/trial/55076). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture and acupressure of acupoints on tendon blood circulation with those of both types of stimulation of tendon itself. Methods: Before, during (except for acupressure), and after acupuncture and acupressure of the tendon and acupoint, blood circulation of the Achilles tendon was measured using red laser lights. Results: The blood volume of the treated and non-treated tendons increased after acupuncture of the tendon (effect of time p = 0.030), whereas that tended to increase after acupuncture of the acupoint (effect of time p = 0.063). In addition, no significant difference in the increases in blood volume was found among the four conditions, i.e., after acupuncture stimulation of the tendon and acupoint for the treated and non-treated tendons (p = 0.492). The blood volume of the treated tendon significantly increased after acupressure of the tendon (effect of time p < 0.001), but not of the acupoint (effect of time p = 0.260), whereas that of the non-treated tendon did not change after acupressure of both the tendon and acupoint. Conclusion: These results suggested that acupuncture of the tendon and acupoint acted centrally to enhance blood circulation of both the treated and non-treated tendons during the recovery period, whereas acupressure of the tendon locally increased blood circulation of the treated tendon only, but not the non-treated tendon and both the treated and non-treated tendons after acupressure of acupoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is widely recognized as the preferred method for treating gallstone disease. However, like any surgical procedure involving anesthesia, it carries the risk of postoperative complications, including common side effects such as vomiting and nausea. As a result, acupressure treatments targeting the pericardium 6 (P6) point have gained attention in alleviating nausea and vomiting. This non-invasive massage technique has been emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its significance. Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of acupressure treatment at the wristband point (P6) on nausea and vomiting experienced by patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methodology: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at Safer Al Imam Al Hussein Surgical Hospital in Karbala Holy City. Sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided into two groups: 30 patients in the intervention group received acupressure techniques using an elastic wristband postoperatively, which was removed after six hours, while 30 patients in the control group received routine conventional care. Descriptive analysis (e.g., frequency, percentage, and mean score) and inferential analysis (e.g., one-way ANOVA test, independent sample t-test) were employed to examine and measure the study outcomes. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean score for nausea and vomiting in the intervention group decreased significantly from 1.97 ± 0.183 before the intervention to 1.13 ± 0.354 after implementing the intervention (p-value = 0.000). In contrast, the control group did not experience any improvement in their symptoms, with their condition worsening significantly. Conclusion: Patients experiencing nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery may benefit from the non-invasive treatment of wristband acupressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]