Acupressure on Uremic Pruritus and Sleep Quality Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hemodialysis; Uremic Pruritus

Treatments: Other: Acupressure

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05575193

202102EM001

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

1. Skin-related disease
2. Liver disease
3. Psychiatric disorder
4. Cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy
5. Nerve or vascular or soft tissue diseases of the extremitie
6. Infections or surgeries on the extremitie

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

Acupressure Group

Experimental group

Description:

The patients receiving the intervention of acupressure are in the experimental 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.

Treatment:

Other: Acupressure

Non-Acupressure Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Acupressure is not provided, only general routines are performed. Pre-test and 3 post-tests of "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)", "5D Tickling Scale", and "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale" are also required (week 4, week 8 and week 12).