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Background: Patients experience a fear of death and consequent anxiety before coronary angiography (CA). High levels of stress cause cardiac irritability and increased blood pressure. Acupressure is a non-pharmacological nursing intervention that can relieve and reduce pain and regulate anxiety-related blood pressure levels., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acupressure applied before the CA procedure on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse, and pain intensity parameters after the CA., Design: The study was a randomized controlled trial., Setting: The study took place at the Cardiology Service (CS) of a Training and Research Hospital in Turkey., Participants: One hundred patients who met the research criteria were divided equally into two groups-50 patients in the intervention group (IG) and the rest in the control group (CG)-using a simple randomization method., Intervention Group (ig): The IG received acupressure and the CG did not. Acupressure was applied to patients in the IG 30-60 minutes before the CA. In the study, pressure was applied to the Li4, HT7, and Extra 1 acupressure points., Outcome Measure: Pain intensity, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the pulse of the patients were measured three times-once before the CA intervention and twice after. The study data were collected using a patient information form, a visual analog scale (VAS), an electronic blood pressure measurement device, and a pulse oximeter., Results: It was found that group and group-time interactions were not significant in the IG and CG for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and pulse (P > .05). It was observed that the mean VAS of the IG was statistically significantly lower than that of the CG (P = .000)., Conclusion: It was concluded that acupressure has no effect in the management of hemodynamic changes after a CA, but it is effective in pain management. We suggest that the use of acupressure be expanded by creating awareness about its benefits among CA patients and nurses working in CS., Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05235841.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupressure on anxiety and pain of patients undergoing coronary angiography procedures. This study was conducted in a cardiology clinic of the training and research hospital in of a province of southeast Turkey. A randomized control group design was used. Eighty patients who were undergoing coronary angiography were randomly enrolled in intervention and control groups. The intervention protocol included 11 minutes of acupressure that applied to Hegu, Shenmen, and Yintang acupoints. No intervention was applied to the control group. Spielberger's state-trait anxiety inventory and the visual analog scale were used as data-collecting tools. Data were analyzed using t test in independent groups and χ2 test. The mean score of state anxiety of the intervention group was 41.50 ± 3.88, and was statistically significantly lower than the score of the control group after acupressure (P = .000). VASP2 and VASP3 pain intensity of the intervention group was statistically significantly lower than that of the control group after the coronary angiography procedure (P = .000). Acupressure is an effective technique for reducing the pain severity and anxiety among patients undergoing coronary angiography., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of acupressure applied to hemodialysis patients on the level of daytime sleepiness and sleep quality. The data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. In the study, a total of 12 sessions of acupressure were applied to the Shenmen (HT7), Sanyingjao (Sp6), and Yungquan (KI1) points in the experimental group for 4 weeks. No intervention was applied to the control group. After the acupressure, it was determined that the sleep quality of the experimental group was better than that of the control group and that daytime sleepiness was less compared with the control group. After the acupressure, it was determined that the sleep latency of the experimental group was statistically significantly less and their total sleep duration was higher compared with the control group (P < .05). Although there was a decrease in the sleep quality of the experimental group 1 month after the cessation of the acupressure, it was determined that the sleep quality of the experimental group was better than that of the control group (P < .05). It was concluded that acupressure was an effective nursing intervention in increasing sleep quality and decreasing daytime sleepiness of hemodialysis patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)