The effect of acupressure application on reducing pain during phlebotomy in children diagnosed with Thalassaemia
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Published on: June 23, 2023
Melek Gulgun Altintas1, Hacer Cetin2
1Pediatrics In-Service Training Unit, Mersin City Training and Research Hospital, Korukent Neighborhood, 96015 Street. Mersin Integrated Health Campus, 33240 Toroslar, Mersin, Turkiye.
Insights
Acupressure effectively reduces phlebotomy pain in children with thalassaemia. This non-pharmacological method is recommended for nurses to use in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Pain Management
- Complementary Therapies
Background:
- Phlebotomy is a common procedure for children with thalassaemia, often causing significant pain.
- Effective pain management strategies are crucial for improving patient comfort and adherence to treatment.
- Non-pharmacological interventions offer a valuable alternative or adjunct to traditional pain relief methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of acupressure in alleviating phlebotomy-induced pain in pediatric patients with thalassaemia.
- To compare the pain scores, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels between children receiving acupressure and those in a sham group.
- To assess the feasibility of acupressure as an independent nursing intervention.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, randomized controlled experimental study involving 39 children (ages 6-18) diagnosed with thalassaemia.
- Participants were randomized into either an acupressure group (n=19) or a sham group (n=20).
- Pain levels were assessed using the WB Faces Pain Scale, alongside heart rate and oxygen saturation measurements.
Main Results:
- The acupressure and sham groups exhibited similar demographic characteristics.
- A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in pain score averages, heart rate, and oxygen saturation between the two groups.
- The acupressure group demonstrated a significant reduction in phlebotomy pain compared to the sham group.
Conclusions:
- Acupressure is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing phlebotomy pain in children with thalassaemia.
- Nurses can independently implement acupressure in clinical settings to manage procedural pain.
- The findings support the integration of acupressure into routine pediatric nursing care for thalassaemia patients.
Aim:
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of acupressure on reducing phlebotomy pain in children with thalassaemia.
Methods:
The study, a single-centre, randomised controlled experimental study, was conducted between 1 February and 2 June 2022 with 39 children diagnosed with thalassaemia between the ages of 6-18 years. Children were randomised to acupressure and sham groups by lottery. In the acupressure group (n = 19), a single session of acupressure was applied to the determined points. The sham group (n = 20) was only touched. The data of the study were collected using the Personal Data Collection Form and WB Faces Pain Scale. Descriptive statistics obtained from the data were expressed as percentage, mean, frequency, standard deviation and median (minimum-maximum). Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine the suitability of the variables for normal distribution. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the measurement values of two dependent groups that did not show normal distribution; Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the measurement values of two independent groups.
Results:
The groups are similar in terms of their descriptive characteristics (p > 0.05). It was determined that the pain score averages, heart rate and oxygen saturations of the acupressure group were significantly different compared to the Sham group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Acupressure application is recommended as a non-pharmacological method that is effective in reducing the pain of phlebotomy in children diagnosed with Thalassaemia and that nurses can apply independently in clinical practice.
