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Acupressure on Uremic Pruritus and Sleep Quality Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

The Effect of Acupressure on Uremic Pruritus and Sleep Quality Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05575193
Enrollment
44
Registered
2022-10-12
Start date
2021-03-15
Completion date
2022-12-31
Last updated
2023-03-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hemodialysis, Uremic Pruritus

Keywords

Hemodialysis, Acupressure, Uremic Pruritus, Sleep Quality, Effect

Brief 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.

Interventions

OTHERAcupressure

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.

Sponsors

National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

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.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. At least 3 months hemodialysis 2. At least 1 month have itching 3. At least mild itching on the 5D tickling scale (9-11 points) 4. Can answer questions correctly

Exclusion criteria

1. Skin-related disease 2. Liver disease 3. Psychiatric disorder 4. Cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy 5. Nerve or vascular or soft tissue diseases of the extremitie 6. Infections or surgeries on the extremitie

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality IndexPre-testThe scale contains seven indicators (subjective sleep quality, sleep lag period, total sleep hours, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, use of sleeping pills, and daytime dysfunction). Each indicator has its own special scoring method. Indicators are calculated on a scale of 0-3, with a total score ranging from 0-21. The total score of the seven indicators is more than 5 points, the quality of sleep is poor, and the score is less than 5 points, the quality of sleep is good, which means that the higher the score, the worse the quality of sleep.
Visual analogue scalePre-testIs a subjective feeling, no itching = 0, very intense itching = 10, mainly to assess the intensity of the itching
5D Pruritus ScalePre-testIt includes five items to assess: duration of tickling, degree of tickling, changes in tickling, effects of tickling on daily life (sleep, rest/social activities, housework/going out, work/class), and distribution of tickling, and the five items add up to a 5D tickling scale score, with a minimum of 5 points and a maximum of 25 points. Graded degree of itching: no tickling (≤ 8), mild tickling (9-11), moderate tickling (12-17), severe tickling (18-21), very severe itching (≥22)

Countries

Taiwan

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026