Effects of Acupressure on Pruritus and Sleep in Patients on Hemodialysis / 기본간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the effects of acupressure on pruritus and sleep among patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: The study design was a nonequivalent control group repeat measures quasi-experimental study. Data were collected from June to September 2015 in the kidney center at a hospital located in B city. Participants were 42 patients; 20 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. For the experimental group, acupressure on the spots of Sameumgyo (SP6), Zoksamli (ST36), Hyolhae (SP10), and Gokji (LI11) was provided at the time of hemodialysis three times a week for 12 weeks. The numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to measure pruritus, and sleep was measured with the sleep scale developed by Jinju Oh et al. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in pruritus (F=7.80, p=.008) and increase in sleep (F=80.90, p<.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings confirmed in the study show that acupressure is an effective nursing intervention to decrease pruritus felt by patients on hemodialysis and to increase the quality of their sleep.