Effects of Auricular Acupressure Therapy on Insomnia in Hemodialysis Patients

Lee, Youn Hee; Kim, Sook Young

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of auricular acupressure therapy on insomnia of hemodialysis patients. METHOD: The subjects were recruited at a hemodialysis room in B General hospital in Kyonggi-Do. Thirty one patients who have suffered from insomnia were conveniently assigned to an experimental group(n=16) and a control group(n=15). The experimental group received a 2-week intervention composed of a series of six auricular acupressure therapy every 2~3 days. The effect of intervention was measured by completion of a 15-item sleep scale and a sleep satisfaction scale.
RESULTS
The sleep score was higher in the experimental group than in the control group(p=.000). The sleep satisfaction score was higher in the experimental group than in the control group(p=.000).
CONCLUSION
The auricular acupressure therapy can improve the sleep and sleep satisfaction scores in hemodialysis patients with insomnia. Auricular acupressure therapy can be used at the clinical settings as a safe and effective independent nursing intervention to decrease insomnia in hemodialysis patients.