Acupressure on Uremic Pruritus and Sleep Quality Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis
Condition: Hemodialysis; Uremic Pruritus
MeSH terms: Pruritus
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The research is to explore the effect of acupressure on uremic pruritus and sleep quality
      among patients receiving hemodialysis. The research method adopts the experimental research
      method using randomization. The patients receiving the intervention of acupressure are in the
      experimental group, while those who do not receive it are in the control group.
    

Detailed description: 
      There are about 60-90% of hemodialysis patients complain of itchy skin, which can cause the
      sleep quality decline. The important issue of non-invasive acupressure methods to relieve
      skin itching symptoms and to improve sleep quality are worth explored. Therefore, the
      research is to explore the effect of acupressure on uremic pruritus and sleep quality among
      patients receiving hemodialysis. The research method adopts the experimental research method
      using randomization. The patients receiving the intervention of acupressure are in the
      experimental group, while those who do not receive it are in the control group. The
      experimental group will receive the acupressure at the hemodialysis center for a total of 12
      weeks, three times a week. The patients will receive 4 acupuncture points, including Quchi
      acupoint, Xuehai acupoint, Sanyinjiao acupoint, and Zusanli acupoint. Each acupoint will be
      pressed for 3 minutes, and totally 4 acupuncture points are 12 minutes. The effectiveness
      will be evaluated at the fourth week, eighth week and twelfth week. The effectiveness
      assessment in the study will use the "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)", "5D Pruritus Scale", and
      "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale". This study uses the pre-test before the implementation of
      acupuncture, and uses the post-test at week 4, 8, and 12 end of acupuncture. Hopefully, this
      study may develop a beneficial non-drug care measures to improve the itching symptoms and
      sleep quality of hemodialysis patients, and to improve their quality of life. If this
      research result proves that the application of acupressure can be effective, it can not only
      improve the symptoms of itchy skin and sleep problems in hemodialysis patients, but also hope
      that can be extended to patients with end-stage renal disease.
    

Intervention name(s): Acupressure
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): The patients will receive 4 acupuncture points, including Quchi acupoint, Xuehai acupoint, Sanyinjiao acupoint, and Zusanli acupoint. Each acupoint will be pressed for 3 minutes, and totally 4 acupuncture points are 12 minutes.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The patients receiving the intervention of acupressure are in the experimental group, while those who do not receive it are in the control group. The experimental group will receive the acupressure at the hemodialysis center for a total of 12 weeks, three times a week. The patients will receive 4 acupuncture points, including Quchi acupoint, Xuehai acupoint, Sanyinjiao acupoint, and Zusanli acupoint. Each acupoint will be pressed for 3 minutes, and totally 4 acupuncture points are 12 minutes. The effectiveness will be evaluated at the fourth week, eighth week and twelfth week. The effectiveness assessment in the study will use the "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)", "5D Pruritus Scale", and "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale".
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Hemodialysis; Acupressure; Uremic Pruritus; Sleep Quality; Effect