The effect of Acupressure on Anxiety in Patients with Hemodialysis

Patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis are affected by psychological stresses, besides many physiological changes. Nowadays, complementary medicine is one of the methods to control these stresses. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acupressure on anxiety in patients with hemodialysis in TorbatHeidarie city. Methods and Materials: This is a randomized clinical trial with control group. 81 patients with hemodialysis were recruited into acupressure at true points group (27 patients), acupressure at false points group (27 patients), and control group (27 patients) using permutation block in NohomDey educational hospital and Dialysis Clinic of TorbatHeidarie city in 2014. Anxiety of patients of all groups was measured using Spielberger anxiety questionnaire before intervention and from the end of first week till the end of fourth week after intervention. The acupressure at true points group received the acupressure on the true points applied two times a week for four weeks. The acupressure at false points group received the acupressure on 2-3cm far from the true points. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal Wallis and Friedman tests with SPSS version 16 at 0.05 significance level. The acupressure at true points group and acupressure at false points group had significantly different mean levels of apparent and hidden anxiety at “before intervention” stage and “first to fourth week” (p=0.005, p=0.027). The average level of apparent anxiety of “before intervention” and “first-fourth week” was statistically significantly different at acupressure at false points group, but the hidden anxiety was not different at this scenario. The average level of apparent and hidden anxiety of “before intervention” and “first-fourth week” was not statistically significantly different in control group. Findings from this study indicates that the acupressure therapy at true points is able to reduce apparent and hidden anxiety of patients with hemodialysis.