The Effect of Acupressure on the Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness

Methods: In the study, 60 nurses were randomly assigned to acupressure and placebo acupressure groups. To the acupressure group (n = 30), an average of 10 minutes will be applied to the Shen Men, the 7th acupoint (HT7) of the heart meridian located between the ulna and pisiform bones, on the radial side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, and the Sanyinjia points on the splenic meridian (SP6) located on the inner side of the lower leg, four fingers above the ankle and behind the tibia. In the placebo acupressure group (n = 30), the points 1.5 cm away from the HT7 and SP6 points (four points in total) will be applied for an average of 10 minutes. The primary outcome of the research is the effect of acupressure on the sleep quality of nurses. The secondary outcome of the study is to determine the effect of acupressure on daytime sleepiness. The outcomes will be collected before and four weeks after the acupressure and placebo acupressure administration.

Inclusion criteria

The experimental group criteria to be included in the study;

• Caring for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Working in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Agree to participate in the survey (those who signed the Informed Consent Form),
• Do not have physical problems that prevent acupressure application to HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (over four fingers of the ankle) points,
• No experience of acupressure,
• Not diagnosed with sleep disorder and not receiving medical treatment,
• No coffee, cigarette, and alcohol addiction,
• No mental illness,
• Working in the night shift,
• Don't work more than three-night shifts a week.

The control group criteria to be included in the study;

• Caring for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Working in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Agree to participate in the survey (those who signed the Informed Consent Form),
• Do not have physical problems that prevent acupressure application to points 1.5 cm away from HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (4 fingers above the ankle) points,
• No experience of acupressure,
• Not diagnosed with sleep disorder and not receiving medical treatment,
• No coffee, cigarette, and alcohol addiction,
• No mental illness,
• Working in the night shift,
• Do not work more than three-night shifts a week.

Exclusion criteria

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

• Do not care for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Do not work in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Do not agree to participate in the study,
• Having physical problems that prevent acupressure application to HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (over four fingers of the ankle) points,
• Diagnosed with sleep disorder and receiving medical treatment,
• Using drugs that cause sleep problems (antidepressants, analgesics, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Addicted to coffee, cigarette, and alcohol,
• With mental illness,
• Working more than three-night shifts a week,
• Working on a fixed day shift.

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

• Do not care for COVID-19 patients during the research,
• Do not work in surgery services before the pandemic,
• Do not agree to participate in the study,
• Having physical problems that prevent acupressure application to points 1.5 cm away from HT7 (wrist) and SP6 (4 fingers above the ankle) points,
• Diagnosed with sleep disorder and receiving medical treatment,
• Using drugs that cause sleep problems (antidepressants, analgesics, beta adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine agonists, etc.),
• Addicted to coffee, cigarette, and alcohol,
• With mental illness,
• Working more than three-night shifts a week,
• Working on a fixed day shift.