Effects of Acupressure Applied to Intensive Care Patients on Physiological Parameters, Pain, Sleep Quality, Anxiety and Perception of Nursing Presence

Effects of Acupressure Applied to Intensive Care Patients on Physiological Parameters, Pain, Sleep Quality, Anxiety and Perception of Nursing Presence

This study will be conducted in a randomized controlled experimental design to examine the effects of acupressure applied to patients treated in the intensive care unit on physiological parameters, pain, sleep quality, anxiety and perception of nurse presence. The study will be conducted with 60 patients (20 intervention, 20 placebo, 20 control groups) treated in the 2nd stage Intensive Care Unit of an University Hospital between May 2025 and January 2026. Acupressure will be applied to the intervention group for 2 days, morning and evening, for four sessions. For four sessions, pseudo acupressure will be used on the placebo group for 2 days, morning and evening. No application will be made to the control group. The data collection tools in the study are the Patient Identifier Information Form, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Visual Assessment Scale (VAS), Physiological Parameter Assessment Form, Richards-Campbell Sleep Scale, Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Nurse Presence Scale (PONS).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have received intensive care treatment for at least 48 hours,
• Are 18 years of age or older,
• Have a Glasgow Coma Scale score of >13,
• Can speak and write in Turkish,
• Have no psychiatric diagnosis,
• Have no communication problems,
• Have a VAS score of ≥1,
• Have a mean arterial pressure of ≥65,
• Have SpO2 of ≥85.

Exclusion Criteria:

Have previously received acupressure treatment,

• Have ulcers, necrotic tissue and signs and symptoms of infection at the points where pressure will be applied,
• Have used antihypertensives, beta-blockers and similar medications,
• Have sedation,
• Have respiratory support from the device,
• Have inotropic treatment (dopamine, steradin and others),
• Have analgesic treatment in their routine treatment will not be included in the study.

Patients who were discharged during the study,

• Patients who died during the study,
• Patients who wanted to leave the study,
• Patients who started receiving sedation during the application,
• Patients who added antihypertensive, beta-blocker and similar drugs to their routine treatment during the application,
• Patients who received inotropic treatment (dopamine, steradin and others) during the application,
• Patients who started receiving analgesia treatment during the application,
• Patients who developed ulcers, necrotic tissue and infection at the points where pressure will be applied during the application,
• Patients who started receiving respiratory support from the device during the application,
• Patients who had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of ≤13, mean arterial pressure of ≤65 and SpO2 of ≤85 during the application will be excluded from the study.