The Effect of Acupressure on Pain in Children With Thalassemia
Condition: Pain
MeSH terms: Thalassemia
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effect of acupressure on reducing the pain of
      blood collection in children with Thalassemia. The hypothesis of this study is that
      acupressure application reduces acute pain.
    

Detailed description: 
      A total of 39 children with a diagnosis of Thalassemia were randomly assigned to the study
      and control groups. In the study group (n:19), blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation
      were measured, and the acupressure points determined (large intestine meridian 4. Point: LI
      4, large intestine meridian 11. Point: LI 11, Heart Meridian 7. Point: HT 7 ) acupressure was
      applied for only one session by applying light pressure with the thumb of the practitioner's
      hand, in two directions as the right and left arms, for 2 minutes to each point for a total
      of 12 minutes. Blood was drawn immediately after the procedure. In order to evaluate the
      child's pain immediately after the blood collection procedure, the child was asked to mark
      the most appropriate face on the Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. In addition, the child's
      pain was evaluated by the researcher and the parent using the Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating
      Scale. After the pain assessment, the child's heart rate, oxygen saturation and blood
      pressure were re-evaluated by the researcher and recorded in the Procedure Record Form.

      Placebo (sham) acupressure application is the pressure of the fingers on the non-meridian
      region without a specific acupressure point. The point used in our research is the point
      located in the middle of the third and fourth metacarpal bones on the back of the hand. The
      children in the placebo control group were only touched by the researcher without applying
      pressure and massage for one minute to the determined placebo point immediately after their
      physiological parameters were evaluated, and immediately after that, blood collection was
      performed. Immediately after blood collection, the child was asked to mark the most
      appropriate facial expression on the Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale so that he or she
      could evaluate his pain. In addition, the child's pain was evaluated by the researcher and
      the parent using the Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. After the pain assessment, the
      child's heart rate, oxygen saturation and blood pressure were re-evaluated by the researcher
      and recorded in the Procedure Record Form.
    

Intervention name(s): acupressure
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Before the blood collection procedure, pressure will be applied to the acupressure points determined by the researcher for 2 minutes and then blood collection will be performed.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: prospective, parallel , randomized controlled clinical trial
Masking: Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: acupressure; thalassemia; child; pediatric nursing