The effect on back pain and fatigue level of acupressure after coronary angiography: A randomized single-blind sham-controlled study.

Abstract

Back pain and fatigue relating to long-term bed rest in patients after coronary angiography is a frequently seen problem. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of acupressure on the level of back pain and fatigue after coronary angiography. The research was conducted as a single-blind, randomized sham-controlled study between January and March 2022. A total of 120 participants were randomly assigned to an acupressure group (n = 40), a sham acupressure group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40). After coronary angiography, the acupressure group were given acupressure once for 15 minutes, and the sham acupressure group were given sham acupressure once for 15 minutes. A Personal Information Form and Visual Analog Scales for Pain and Fatigue were used to collect data. When the acupressure group was compared with the sham acupressure and control groups, a significant decrease was found in the levels of low back pain (p < .001) and fatigue (p < .001) after the intervention. It was found that acupressure after coronary angiography was effective in lowering patients' levels of back pain and fatigue. Acupressure can be applied as a safe and non-invasive nursing intervention to reduce back pain and fatigue after coronary angiography, supporting patient comfort and early recovery. NCT06312397.