The Effects of Korean Hand Acupressure on Postoperative Nausea-Vomiting and Retching After Thyroidectomy
Condition: Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
MeSH terms: Nausea; Vomiting; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The study was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effect
      of Korean hand acupressure applied after thyroidectomy on postoperative nausea-vomiting and
      retching. After ethics committee approval and institutional permission, 42 patients who
      applied to the general surgery clinic for thyroidectomy between February 1, 2021 and June 1,
      2022 and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. In the light of academic
      studies reported within the scope of the planned study, the sample size was determined with
      the effect size d = 0.942 (effect size), α = 0.05 ( margin of error), 1-β = 0.90 (Power) and
      G-power package program. It was decided to recruit 42 people (21 people per group). The block
      randomization method was used to determine the experimental and control groups. Randomization
      was done by a biostatistician other than the researcher. Patients who met the inclusion
      criteria and agreed to participate in the study were assigned to the experimental and control
      groups according to the randomization list. Before the operation, the patient was visited and
      informed about the purpose, content and the intervention to be applied. After obtaining
      verbal and written consent from the patients who agreed to participate in the study, the
      "Individual Characteristics Form" was filled. The first part of the "Patient Follow-up Form"
      was filled in the experimental and control groups on the day of surgery. Korean hand
      acupressure was applied to the experimental group 30 minutes before the induction of
      anesthesia. After determining the pressure/treatment points on the patient's hand due to
      nausea and vomiting, a 3-5 minute massage was performed with the diagnostic stick. The seeds
      were then fixed at these points with a paper patch. The seeds were not removed for 8 hours.
      Massage was done for 3-5 minutes by pressing the seeds every 2 hours and making a curling
      motion at the same time. At the end of the 8th hour, the application was terminated. The
      application was made by Sevgi Gür, a researcher trained in Korean hand acupressure. In the
      control group, no application will be made during and after the surgical intervention, and
      routine treatment and care was applied. Pain, severity of nausea and vomiting, number of
      nausea-vomiting and retching, name, dose, frequency and duration of antiemetic drugs used
      were determined by the researcher at the 2nd, 6th, 12th and 24th hours after the patients in
      the experimental and control groups applied to the clinic. It was recorded in the second part
      of the "form". At the end of the 24th hour, the Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting and Retching Index
      score was evaluated by the researcher.
    

Detailed description: 
      The universe of the research; patients scheduled for thyroidectomy between February 1, 2021
      and June 1, 2022, in the general surgery clinic where the study will be conducted,
      constituted patients who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study.
      The study was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study. The block randomization
      method was used to determine the experimental and control groups. Randomization was done by a
      biostatistician other than the researcher. Patients who met the inclusion criteria and agreed
      to participate in the study were assigned to the experimental and control groups according to
      the randomization list. Research data were collected in the general surgery ward of a
      hospital from February 1, 2021 to June 1, 2022. The independent variable of the research is
      Korean hand acupressure. The dependent variables of the study were postoperative
      nausea-vomiting and retching (number and severity), pain severity (Visual Analog Scale-VAS),
      Rhodes nausea-vomiting and retching index score average. In the study, "Individual
      Characteristics Form" and "Patient Follow-up Form" prepared by the researcher in line with
      the literature were used as data collection tools.
    

Intervention name(s): Korean hand acupressure
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): According to the working principle of Korean hand acupressure; There are active points and areas in the hands and feet that fit the whole body. The active points on the hands and feet are properly matched to reflect the anatomy of the whole organism. Areas in the body and systems suitable for them are in constant contact. In the patient, the signal wave moves from the damaged point or area and reaches the appropriate point immediately. Thus, changes such as severe pain, skin discoloration, hardening, thickening and thinning in some parts of the skin occur at that point. With the stimulation of the effective point, a treatment wave occurs that heals the sick organ.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: A randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effect of Korean hand acupressure applied after thyroidectomy on postoperative nausea-vomiting and retching.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Postoperative nausea and vomiting; Nursing; Acupressure; Thyroidectomy