Acupressure on Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness of Surgical Nurses: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled...

This study was conducted to determine the effect of self-administered acupressure on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness of surgical nurses METHODS: The study was conducted in Mersin, Turkey, between March and May 2021. The sample of the randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial consisted of 60 nurses working in the surgical clinics. Surgical nurses in the acupressure (n = 30) and sham acupressure groups practiced self-administration. In the study, the acupressure group (n = 30) applied pressure to the Shen Men (HT7) and Sanjinyiao (SP6) points, and the sham acupressure group (n = 30) applied pressure to the points 1.5 cm around the same points for an average of 10 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks, 1 hour before going to bed at night.

Both groups had poor sleep quality and high daytime sleepiness before the application, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (p > .05). After the application, the acupressure group's total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score and sleep disturbances sub-dimension score were found to be lower than the sham acupressure group (p < .05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of their Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores (p > .05).

The study revealed that acupressure applied on points HT7 and SP6 in surgical nurses increased sleep quality and decreased daytime sleepiness, although not significantly.   Cite this article as: Yanık, T. Ç., & Altun Uğraş, G. (2025). Acupressure on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness of surgical nurses: A randomized, single-blind, sham controlled trial. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 33, 0247, doi:10.5152/FNJN.2025.24247.