The Effect of Acupressure on the Anxiety Level (Acupres)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04849793
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: April 19, 2021
• Last Update Posted: January 31, 2022
• Sponsor: Mersin University
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Tugba CAM YANIK, Mersin University

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This randomized controlled study evaluates the effect of acupressure application on the anxiety level of senior nursing students.The hypothesis of this study is that acupressure reduces anxiety levels.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Anxiety	Other: Acupressure	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Methods: In the study, 52 senior nursing students were randomly assigned to the study and control groups. The study group (n = 26) included Shen Men, the 7th acupuncture point (HT7) of the heart meridian located between the ulna and pisiform bones on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, EX-HN3 (Yintang) located in the middle of the beginning of both eyebrows and the thumb and the LI4 points located in the space between the index finger (between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones of the hand, in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side) will be applied for an average of 10 minutes. No intervention will be made to the control group (n = 26). In order to avoid ethical problems, both groups will be given an informative training on acupressure and anxiety content at the end of the study. The primary outcome of the study is the effect of acupressure on the state anxiety level of senior nursing students. The secondary outcome of the study is the effect of acupressure on trait anxiety level in senior nursing students. The results will be collected before the acupressure and in the 4th week of the last intervention.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 52 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Intervention Model Description: Prospective, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled clinical trial
• Masking: Single (Participant)
• Masking Description: First of all, the names of all students will be listed alphabetically for the selection of 196 nursing students in the research population and 52 nursing students who will be the sample. Numbers between 1-196 will be written in front of each student in the ordered student list. 52 nursing students will be determined by randomization created in computer environment by an independent researcher who is not included in the study. A total of 52 students in the sample group determined by randomization will be separated according to the A and B groups created by the same statistician in computer environment.
• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Official Title: The Effect of Acupressure on the Anxiety Level of Senior Nursing Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Actual Study Start Date: April 15, 2021
• Actual Primary Completion Date: May 15, 2021
• Actual Study Completion Date: May 15, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Experimental; Before the intervention, the students will be asked to rub the area around the area to be pressed for 20-30 seconds with their palms. With the gentle rubbing of the surrounding tissue, the tension and tissue sensitivity in the area of warming, relaxing and preparatory will be reduced and the tissue will be relieved. After rubbing, each individual's pain threshold level will be taken as a basis in order not to cause tissue damage. The students will be asked to press the designated point manually with their thumb, index or middle finger for 5 seconds with a depth of 1-1.5 cm, rest for 2 seconds and continue the practice for 2 minutes. In the study group, an average of 13 minutes will be applied to HT7, LI4 and EX-HN3 points (five points in total) for two minutes each. The nursing students participating in the research will be given a total of 12 acupressure intervention remotely, three days a week, for four weeks, at least two hours after dinner and when they are calmest.	Other: Acupressure; Before starting the application, the students will be asked to rub the area around the area to be pressed for 20-30 seconds with their palms. With the gentle rubbing of the surrounding tissue, the tension and tissue sensitivity in the area of warming, relaxing and preparatory will be reduced and the tissue will be relieved. . The students will be asked to press the designated point manually with their thumb, index or middle finger for 5 seconds with a depth of 1-1.5 cm, rest for 2 seconds and continue the practice for 2 minutes; Other Name: Acupress
No Intervention: Control; No intervention will be made to the control group, only the data will be collected at the same time as the study group.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Anxiety evaluated using the State Anxiety Scale [ Time Frame: Change from before implementation and 4th week of practice ]
   Scores ranging from 20 to 80 points are obtained in the scale. In the total score obtained from the scale in scoring the scale, 0-19 points indicate the absence of anxiety, 20-39 points indicate mild anxiety, 40-59 points indicate moderate anxiety, and 60-79 points indicate severe anxiety level. Higher state anxiety scores indicate that anxiety level is also high

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Anxiety evaluated using the Trait Anxiety Scale [ Time Frame: Change from before implementation and 4th week of practice ]
   In the total score obtained from the scale in scoring the scale, 0-19 points indicate the absence of anxiety, 20-39 points indicate mild anxiety, 40-59 points indicate moderate anxiety, and 60-79 points indicate severe anxiety level. Higher trait anxiety scores indicate that anxiety level is also high.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 30 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

The experimental group criteria to be included in the study;

• To voluntarily agree to participate in the study (those who signed the Informed Volunteer Form),
• Not having physical problems that would prevent acupressure application to HT7 (wrist), LI4 (the point where the thumb and index finger meet) and EX-HN3 (the middle point of the right and left eye level),
• Not having experience with acupressure,
• Not using drugs that affect anxiety level (antidepressants, analgesics, beta adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Not using alcohol and drugs,
• Not having access to the devices required for internet and online education,
• Not being diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study,
• Not having any psychiatric diagnosis.,

The control group criteria to be included in the study;

• To voluntarily agree to participate in the study (those who signed the Informed Volunteer Form),
• Not having experience with acupressure,
• Not using drugs that affect anxiety level (antidepressants, analgesics, beta adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Not having access to the devices required for internet and online education,
• Not using alcohol and drugs,
• Not being diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study,
• Not having any psychiatric diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

The experimental group criteria not to be included in the study;

• Not accepting voluntarily to participate in the study (those who did not sign the Informed Volunteer Form),
• Having a physical problem that prevents acupressure application to HT7 (wrist), LI4 (the point where the thumb and index finger meet) and EX-HN3 (the middle point of the right and left eye level),
• To have an acupressure experience,
• Using drugs that affect anxiety level (antidepressants, analgesics, beta adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Having access to the devices required for internet and online education,
• Using alcohol and substance,
• Being diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study,
• Any psychiatric diagnosis

The control group criteria not to be included in the study;

• Not accepting voluntarily to participate in the study (those who did not sign the Informed Volunteer Form),
• To have an acupressure experience,
• Using drugs that affect anxiety level (antidepressants, analgesics, beta adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Having access to the devices required for internet and online education,
• Using alcohol and substance,
• Being diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study,
• Having any psychiatric diagnosis.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Turkey

Turkey, Mersin University,

Mersin, Turkey

Sponsors and Collaborators

Mersin University

Investigators

• Study Director: Gülay ALTUN UĞRAŞ, Doctorate; gulaltun@mersin.edu.tr
• Principal Investigator: Seher GÜRDİL YILMAZ, Doctorate; shrgrdl@hotmail.com
• Principal Investigator: Ahmet KARAMAN, Doctorate; ahmet.karaman@mersin.edu.tr
• Principal Investigator: Canan KANAT, MASTER; canankanat@mersin.edu.tr

More Information

• Responsible Party: Tugba CAM YANIK, Research Assistant, Mersin University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04849793
• Other Study ID Numbers: MersinUniversity
• First Posted: April 19, 2021
• Last Update Posted: January 31, 2022
• Last Verified: January 2022

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by Tugba CAM YANIK, Mersin University:

Acupressure; Nursing students; Anxiety; COVID-19

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders