Aim This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of acupressure application on gastrointestinal functions and pain after abdominal hysterectomy. Materials and methods After undergoing hysterectomy, 39 women were randomised into acupressure (n=19), and control groups (n=20). Women in the acupressure group received acupressure on the mide meridian (ST36), the heart meridian (HT7), large intestine meridian (LI4), intersection of the spleen, liver and kidney meridians 6(SP6) and pericardium meridian (PC6) acupoints 30 min after admission to the clinic, for a period of 15 min, whereas those in the sham group received acupressure on locations 1-1.5 cm away from these points. The control group received standard treatment. The patient information form, Visual analog scale, the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching, and daily follow-up form were used for data collection.
The study consists of two groups: control and experimental groups. Those who received acupressure application were called the experimental group, and patients who received routine post-operative care were called the control group. Acupressure application was applied to the experimental group at the third and twenty-fourth hours after surgery. The control group was evaluated without any application for two days. For the acupressure application, planning was made to adjust the temperature, light, and silence of the environment and to pay attention to privacy. 5 points that positively affect gastrointestinal functions and pain were selected (SP6, ST36, PC6, HT7, LI4). The duration of the session was determined to be approximately 18-20 minutes, depending on the preparation and pressure time to be applied on the 5 selected points (a total of 10 points were applied since each point will also be applied to its counterpart in the other extremity). Acupressure application was applied to each point for 1.5 minutes (1.5\*10=15 minutes). The application was applied to a total of 39 women, 19 experimental and 20 control. No treatment was performed on the women in the control group other than routine post-operative care.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
60
For the acupressure application, planning was made to adjust the temperature, light and silence of the environment and to pay attention to privacy. 5 points that positively affect gastrointestinal functions and pain were selected (SP6, ST36, PC6, HT7 AND LI4). The duration of the session was determined to be approximately 18-20 minutes, depending on the preparation and pressure time to be applied on the 5 selected points (a total of 10 points were applied since each point will also be applied to its counterpart in the other extremity). Acupressure application was applied to each point for 1.5 minutes (1.5\*10=15 minutes).
Yeliz Yildirim Varişoğlu
Istanbul, Beykoz, Turkey (Türkiye)
the score of nausea, vomiting and retching experiences
To evaluate the 24-hour nausea and vomiting status, the Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting and Retching Index was used to evaluate postoperative nausea and vomiting.In this scale, the number of nausea, vomiting, and retching of individuals and their distress are measured by Likert type assessment. This five-point Likert-type scale consists of eight items that measure the number and severity of nausea, vomiting, and retching in the last 24 hours. For each response, "never vomited" is scored as "0" or "never felt it", "7 or more" "severe" "more than 6 hours" "too much" is scored as 4. Items 1, 3, 6, and 7 must be reversed to score the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching. The highest value that can be obtained from the scale is 32, meaning that as the score increases, the level of distress also increases. The scale has three subscales: symptom (nausea, vomiting, and retching) experience, occurrence, and distress.
Time frame: 18 month
gas output and stool formation of the participants
This is the form in which the patients' bowel sounds, flatulence time are defecation time are recorded for two days after hysterectomy.
Time frame: 18 month
postoperative pain
Pain intensity was evaluated with the Numerical Pain Intensity Scale, which is a single-criteria and subjective individual pain assessment method and aims to explain the severity of the patient's pain with numbers. The starting point of the scale, which consists of a horizontal line, is "0" or "no pain", and the ending point is "10" or "unbearable pain". There are numbers from 0 to 10 at equal intervals on the horizontal line, where 1-3 is defined as mild pain, 4-6 as moderate pain, and 7-10 as severe pain.
Time frame: 18 month
Systolic Blood pressure
Postoperative vital signs was evaluated by daily following form
Time frame: 18 month
Heart rate
Postoperative vital signs was evaluated by daily following form
Time frame: 18 month
Diastolic blood pressure
Postoperative vital signs was evaluated by daily following form
Time frame: 18 month
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