Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05575193

Acupressure on Uremic Pruritus and Sleep Quality Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

The research is to explore the effect of acupressure on uremic pruritus and sleep quality among patients receiving hemodialysis. The research method adopts the experimental research method using randomization. The patients receiving the intervention of acupressure are in the experimental group, while those who do not receive it are in the control group.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Hemodialysis Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Wake Disorders Uremic Pruritus

Age range

20 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Xuan-Yi Huang

Taipei, Peitou, 11219, Taiwan

About this study

There are about 60-90% of hemodialysis patients complain of itchy skin, which can cause the sleep quality decline. The important issue of non-invasive acupressure methods to relieve skin itching symptoms and to improve sleep quality are worth explored. Therefore, the research is to explore the effect of acupressure on uremic pruritus and sleep quality among patients receiving hemodialysis. The research method adopts the experimental research method using randomization. The patients receiving the intervention of acupressure are in the experimental group, while those who do not receive it are in the control group. The experimental group will receive the acupressure at the hemodialysis center for a total of 12 weeks, three times a week. The patients will receive 4 acupuncture points, including Quchi acupoint, Xuehai acupoint, Sanyinjiao acupoint, and Zusanli acupoint. Each acupoint will be pressed for 3 minutes, and totally 4 acupuncture points are 12 minutes. The effectiveness will be evaluated at the fourth week, eighth week and twelfth week. The effectiveness assessment in the study will use the "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)", "5D Pruritus Scale", and "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale". This study uses the pre-test before the implementation of acupuncture, and uses the post-test at week 4, 8, and 12 end of acupuncture. Hopefully, this study may develop a beneficial non-drug care measures to improve the itching symptoms and sleep quality of hemodialysis patients, and to improve their quality of life. If this research result proves that the application of acupressure can be effective, it can not only improve the symptoms of itchy skin and sleep problems in hemodialysis patients, but also hope that can be extended to patients with end-stage renal disease.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • At least 3 months hemodialysis
  • At least 1 month have itching
  • At least mild itching on the 5D tickling scale (9-11 points)
  • Can answer questions correctly

Exclusion criteria

  • Skin-related disease
  • Liver disease
  • Psychiatric disorder
  • Cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  • Nerve or vascular or soft tissue diseases of the extremitie
  • Infections or surgeries on the extremitie

Treatment and study plan

Acupressure

Other

The patients will receive 4 acupuncture points, including Quchi acupoint, Xuehai acupoint, Sanyinjiao acupoint, and Zusanli acupoint. Each acupoint will be pressed for 3 minutes, and totally 4 acupuncture points are 12 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

    Time frame: Pre-test

    The scale contains seven indicators (subjective sleep quality, sleep lag period, total sleep hours, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, use of sleeping pills, and daytime dysfunction). Each indicator has its own special scoring method. Indicators are calculated on a scale of 0-3, with a total score ranging from 0-21. The total score of the seven indicators is more than 5 points, the quality of sleep is poor, and the score is less than 5 points, the quality of sleep is good, which means that the higher the score, the worse the quality of sleep.

  2. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

    Time frame: Post-test at week 4

    The scale contains seven indicators (subjective sleep quality, sleep lag period, total sleep hours, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, use of sleeping pills, and daytime dysfunction). Each indicator has its own special scoring method. Indicators are calculated on a scale of 0-3, with a total score ranging from 0-21. The total score of the seven indicators is more than 5 points, the quality of sleep is poor, and the score is less than 5 points, the quality of sleep is good, which means that the higher the score, the worse the quality of sleep.

  3. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

    Time frame: Post-test at week 8

    The scale contains seven indicators (subjective sleep quality, sleep lag period, total sleep hours, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, use of sleeping pills, and daytime dysfunction). Each indicator has its own special scoring method. Indicators are calculated on a scale of 0-3, with a total score ranging from 0-21. The total score of the seven indicators is more than 5 points, the quality of sleep is poor, and the score is less than 5 points, the quality of sleep is good, which means that the higher the score, the worse the quality of sleep.

  4. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

    Time frame: Post-test at week 12

    The scale contains seven indicators (subjective sleep quality, sleep lag period, total sleep hours, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, use of sleeping pills, and daytime dysfunction). Each indicator has its own special scoring method. Indicators are calculated on a scale of 0-3, with a total score ranging from 0-21. The total score of the seven indicators is more than 5 points, the quality of sleep is poor, and the score is less than 5 points, the quality of sleep is good, which means that the higher the score, the worse the quality of sleep.

  5. Visual analogue scale

    Time frame: Pre-test

    Is a subjective feeling, no itching = 0, very intense itching = 10, mainly to assess the intensity of the itching

  6. Visual analogue scale

    Time frame: Post-test at week 4

    Is a subjective feeling, no itching = 0, very intense itching = 10, mainly to assess the intensity of the itching

  7. Visual analogue scale

    Time frame: Post-test at week 8

    Is a subjective feeling, no itching = 0, very intense itching = 10, mainly to assess the intensity of the itching

  8. Visual analogue scale

    Time frame: Post-test at week 12

    Is a subjective feeling, no itching = 0, very intense itching = 10, mainly to assess the intensity of the itching

  9. 5D Pruritus Scale

    Time frame: Pre-test

    It includes five items to assess: duration of tickling, degree of tickling, changes in tickling, effects of tickling on daily life (sleep, rest/social activities, housework/going out, work/class), and distribution of tickling, and the five items add up to a 5D tickling scale score, with a minimum of 5 points and a maximum of 25 points. Graded degree of itching: no tickling (≤ 8), mild tickling (9-11), moderate tickling (12-17), severe tickling (18-21), very severe itching (≥22)

  10. 5D Pruritus Scale

    Time frame: Post-test at week 4

    It includes five items to assess: duration of tickling, degree of tickling, changes in tickling, effects of tickling on daily life (sleep, rest/social activities, housework/going out, work/class), and distribution of tickling, and the five items add up to a 5D tickling scale score, with a minimum of 5 points and a maximum of 25 points. Graded degree of itching: no tickling (≤ 8), mild tickling (9-11), moderate tickling (12-17), severe tickling (18-21), very severe itching (≥22)

  11. 5D Pruritus Scale

    Time frame: Post-test at week 8

    It includes five items to assess: duration of tickling, degree of tickling, changes in tickling, effects of tickling on daily life (sleep, rest/social activities, housework/going out, work/class), and distribution of tickling, and the five items add up to a 5D tickling scale score, with a minimum of 5 points and a maximum of 25 points. Graded degree of itching: no tickling (≤ 8), mild tickling (9-11), moderate tickling (12-17), severe tickling (18-21), very severe itching (≥22)

  12. 5D Pruritus Scale

    Time frame: Post-test at week 12

    It includes five items to assess: duration of tickling, degree of tickling, changes in tickling, effects of tickling on daily life (sleep, rest/social activities, housework/going out, work/class), and distribution of tickling, and the five items add up to a 5D tickling scale score, with a minimum of 5 points and a maximum of 25 points. Graded degree of itching: no tickling (≤ 8), mild tickling (9-11), moderate tickling (12-17), severe tickling (18-21), very severe itching (≥22)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Acupressure on Uremic Pruritus and Sleep Quality Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Oct 12, 2022
Registry last updated
Mar 23, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.