J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2018 Aug;25(3):197-209. 10.7739/jkafn.2018.25.3.197.

Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

• Lee H
• Park H

• KMID: 2420556
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2018.25.3.197

Abstract

PURPOSE
To examine the effects of auricular acupressure on symptoms of patients with allergic rhinitis and their quality of life.
METHODS
A quasi experimental was used with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest method involving 56 adult outpatients who were seen in the Allergy & Asthma clinic at a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, Korea. The experimental group (n=28) received 2 weeks of auricular acupressure to the Shenmen, wind stream, endocrine, adrenal, and lung acupuncture points; no acupressure was provided to the control group (n=28). Outcome measures included Total Nasal Symptom Score used to assess nasal symptoms, and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire to assess the quality of life. Repeated measure ANOVA and independent t-test were used to calculate statistical significance.
RESULTS
The experimental group showed significant improvements in terms of allergic rhinitis symptoms (p < .001) and on the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (p < .001) compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION
Finding in this study indicate that auricular acupressure can be used as a nursing intervention to alleviate nasal symptoms and improve rhinoconjuctivitis quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients.

Keyword

Acupressure; Rhinitis; Allergy; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Acupressure*
Acupuncture Points
Adult
Asthma
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Korea
Lung
Methods
Nursing
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Outpatients
Quality of Life*
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic*
Rivers
Seoul
Tertiary Care Centers
Wind