RESUMO
To assess the effectiveness of acupressure [acupuncture without needle] and synergism of acupoints in reducing and maintaining patient's anxiety before abdominal surgeries. Participants in this randomized controlled trial were 70 patients who were scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery. Patients were randomized to an acupressure group or a placebo group, received acupressure either at the right points or at sham points for 10 mins. Anxiety [recorded on a Visual Analog Scale [0-10]] measured before, following pressure application and 30 minutes after intervention in both groups. The anxiety decreased in both group following pressure application for 10 min [P<0.001], but these effect sustained 30 mins after intervention only in acupressure group [P<0.001] not in placebo group. Comparison anxiety in following pressure application and 30 mins after intervention between groups was significant. Acupressure at the Yintang and Shen men points can decrease the anxiety level in patients before abdominal surgeries and sustained lower for 30 mins