The Effectiveness of Acupressure in Improving Dyspnea of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Main Authors: Hua-Shan Wu, 吳樺姍
• Other Authors: Li-Chan Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/57367301366016539024

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 臨床護理研究所 === 89 === A quasi-experimental study was conducted, exploring the efficacy of acupressure in treating breathless patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subjects who were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were chosen from a medical center and three regional hospitals in Taipei. Of the 209 total subjects meeting the sampling criteria, 66 participated this study and were placed into three groups of 22 subjects each. Using age, sex, pulmonary function, smoking, and steroid use as matching factors, 44 subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental and control I group, and the remaining 22 subjects were assigned to the control II group. The experimental group received an acupressure program improving dyspnea. Control I group was acupressured using different meridians and ganglionic section than the experimental group. Both acupressure programs lasted four weeks, five sessions per week and sixteen minutes per session. Control II group received standard medical treatments without acupressure. Data was collected prior to and following the acupressure program and included pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, 6-min walking distance, and patient-rated states of breathlessness, depression, anxiety and functional ability. Descriptive analysis, chi-square, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal Wallis test and Spearman correlation were used to analyze these data. The results of this study showed the PFSDQ-M activity subscale scores, dyspnea visual analogue scale scores, 6 minute walking distance, state-anxiety scale scores, and depression scale scores of the experimental group were significantly improved compared to the control I group and control II group after intervention management. The experimental group showed the greatest improvement in PFSDQ-M dyspnea subscale and fatigue subscale scores between pre- and post-treatment. Similarly, control I group was better than control II group. The differences on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation between pre- and post-treatment indicated the experimental group was improved significantly more than control I group. The correlation between demographic data and dyspnea changes in pre- and post-treatment indicated age was negative relative with PFSDQ-M dyspnea subscale change scores. Trait-anxiety scale scores were negatively correlated with state-anxiety scale and depression scale change scores. Social supports scale scores were positively correlated with PFSDQ-M fatigue subscale and state-anxiety scale change scores. Based on these research findings, an independent nursing intervention is realized by implementing this acupressure program to improve dyspnea in nursing technique standards when facing chronic obstructive pulmonary diseased patients.