Effect of Acupressure on Anxiety in Older Women Candidate For Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Most patients experience anxiety during the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). One of the on-pharmacological ways to control anxiety in patients with ESWL is acupressure. This study aims to determine the effect of acupressure on anxiety in older women candidates for ESWL

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 66 eligible older women candidates for ESWL referred to Ordibehesht Surgical Center in Isfahan, Iran in 2021. They were selected by a continuous sampling method and assigned to the intervention and control groups by the block randomization method. The intervention group received acupressure for 20 minutes, while in the control group, the acupoints were only touched (without applying pressure). Data collection tools were the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Visual Anxiety Scale, completed 60 minutes before and immediately after the intervention. T-test, chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data.

The two groups were similar in terms of demographic variables. Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in anxiety (P> 0.05). After the intervention, the mean severity of anxiety was 3.70±0.77 in the experimental group and 7.36±0.55 in the control group. The mean post-test quality of anxiety was 35.48±5.97 in the intervention group and 61.39±2.42 in the control group. These differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.001).

Acupressure is a safe and non-pharmacological intervention that can reduce the anxiety of older women candidates for ESWL.