J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2022 Sep;31(3):365-372. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2022.31.3.365.

The Impact of Auricular Acupressure on Depression among Nurses

• Kim EK
• You JK
• Ji SJ
• Choi SH
• Jin BM
• Lee CA
• Lee EJ

• KMID: 2534232
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2022.31.3.365

Abstract

Purpose
This study evaluated the impact of auricular acupressure on depression among nurses.
Methods
This study used a randomized control group pretest-posttest design. Shift-work nurses with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score over 5 points were randomized to the experimental group(n=20) or the control group(n=20). For the experimental group, auricular acupressure was conducted at the corresponding points of depression (TGI, AH1) weekly for seven days as well as for two weeks. The PHQ-9 was completed before intervention, as well as two weeks after intervention.
Results
The mean difference in the PHQ-9 score before and after auricular acupressure in the experimental group (-4.11±2.27), was more significant than in the control group (-1.72±3.82) (t=2.28, p=.03).
Conclusion
Result showed that nurses who received auricular acupressure had a decrease in depression, compared to those who did not receive auricular acupressure. Further research is required, to apply the other auricular acupressure points, to evaluate the impact on depressive symptoms.

Keyword

Acupressure; Depression; Nurses; 귀 지압; 우울; 간호사