The Effect of Acupressure on Polyneuropathy-related Pain and Sleep Quality

This study aimed to determine the effect of acupressure on polyneuropathy-related pain and sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes. A randomized controlled experimental design was employed in the study. The study sample consisted of 86 patients with type 2 diabetes (44 in the acupressure group and 42 in the control group) who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group received six sessions of acupressure over six consecutive days, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows 22. Acupressure was found to reduce polyneuropathy-related pain and enhance sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, acupressure may be considered an alternative nursing intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes.

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Key information

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Dyssomnias Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Mental Disorders Metabolic Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Polyneuropathies Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Endocrinology Clinic and Outpatient Clinic of a Atatürk University Hospital

Erzurum, 25000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Were between the ages of 18-65 years old
Resided in the city center
Had no additional diseases that could cause sensory neuropathy, such as peripheral arterial disease, peripheric vein disease, nervous system diseases, benign or malign tumor, chemotherapy history, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis.
Had no clotting or bleeding disorders
Were not undergoing dialysis treatment during the study period
Had no ulcers, physical deformities or foot calluses
Had no history of analgesic medication, except for medication used for DPN
Had no physical diseases, cognitive deficiencies or psychiatric disease diagnosis that would prevent understanding of the questions on the scales used for data collection.

Treatment and study plan

Acupressure

Other

Acupressure is a noninvasive type of acupuncture. It is applied using fingers, joints or a suitable acupressure tool.

Primary outcomes

Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS)

Time frame: 6 days

This scale was originally developed by Galer et al. as the Neuropathic Pain Scale and its validity was confirmed with multiple sclerosis patients (Galer&Jensen 1997). However, this original scale does not include allodynia and paroxysmal pain characteristics, which are common in neuropathic pain syndromes. Jensen et al. developed the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) by adding 10 items related to the quality of neuropathic pain, and its validity was confirmed by measuring the neuropathic pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome (Cronbach's alpha 0.87-0.98) (Jense et al.,2006). Şahin et al. adapted the final version of the scale for Turkish society and reported that it is reliable to be used for the cases of diseases with neuropathic pain (Şahin et al., 2010). For the PQAS, it is recommended that no total score be calculated; rather, the three subscales are scored from 0 to 10. In this study, the Cronbach's alpha values were 0.836 for the paroxysmal pain subscale, 0.624 for the surface pa
Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PQSI)

Time frame: 6 days

This questionnaire was developed by Buysse et al. and was confirmed to have a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.75), test-retest reliability, and validity (Buyyse et al., 1989). A study was conducted to confirm the Turkish validity and reliability of the questionnaire (Cronbach alpha=0.660) (Ağargün&Anlar 1996). Each item of the questionnaire is scored between 0 and 3, and the total PQSI score, which ranges between 0 and 21, is obtained by adding the subscale scores. A PSQI score between 0 and 4 indicates a good quality of sleep, while a score between 5 and 21 indicates a bad quality of sleep (Ağargün&Anlar 1996). In the present study, Cronbach's alpha value was 0.576 for the total PSQI.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Giresun University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Acupressure on Polyneuropathy-related Pain and Sleep Quality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Important dates

Study start: 2019
Primary completion: 2019
Study completion: 2019
First posted: Apr 20, 2025
Registry last updated: Apr 20, 2025

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.

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Completed