This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of acupressure on quality of life, sleep quality, and hopelessness levels in older adults living in a nursing home setting. Aging is associated with decreased sleep quality, reduced life satisfaction, and increased psychological distress, including hopelessness. Non-pharmacological and low-risk interventions are increasingly needed to improve well-being in older populations.

In this study, 50 participants aged 65 years and older were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (acupressure) or a control group (no intervention). The intervention group received acupressure applied to Shenmen (HT7), Neiguan (P6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points three times per week for four weeks. The control group received routine care without additional intervention.

Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention using the CASP-19 Quality of Life Scale, the Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The study evaluates whether acupressure can serve as a safe and effective complementary nursing intervention to improve sleep and overall well-being in older adults.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effect of acupressure on quality of life, sleep quality, and hopelessness among older adults residing in a nursing home.

A total of 50 participants aged 65 years and older were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=25) or the control group (n=25) using simple randomization. Eligibility criteria included being 65 years or older, residing in the nursing home, and having the ability to read and understand study materials. Individuals with skin lesions, infection, sensory loss in acupressure areas, or those unwilling to participate were excluded.

The intervention group received acupressure applied to bilateral Shenmen (HT7), Neiguan (P6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points. Each point was stimulated manually for approximately two minutes per session. The intervention was administered three times per week for four consecutive weeks by a trained researcher. The control group received routine institutional care without additional intervention.

Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention. Quality of life was measured using the CASP-19 scale, sleep quality was evaluated using the Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, and hopelessness levels were measured using the Beck Hopelessness Scale.

Data were analyzed using independent-samples t tests and paired-samples t tests. The study aimed to determine whether acupressure could improve sleep quality and quality of life and reduce hopelessness in older adults. This intervention represents a low-cost, non-invasive complementary nursing approach that may support holistic elderly care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 65 years or older
• Residing in the nursing home where the study was conducted
• Able to communicate verbally
• Able to read and understand the questionnaires
• Volunteered to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of skin lesions, wounds, or infection at acupressure points
• Diagnosed cognitive impairment preventing questionnaire completion
• Severe hearing or communication problems
• Receiving another complementary therapy during the study period
• Refusal to continue participation

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared, including baseline demographic characteristics (age, sex), group allocation, and outcome measure scores (Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, CASP-19 Quality of Life Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale) collected at baseline and at week 4. No personally identifiable information will be included in the shared dataset.

Individual participant data will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the study results and ending 5 years after publication.

Access to de-identified individual participant data, study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and analytic code will be granted to researchers who provide a methodologically sound research proposal. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author. Data will be shared after approval by the study investigators and signing of a data use agreement. Data will be provided in electronic format.

The statistician who analyzed the data was blinded to group allocation. Participants were not informed about group assignment during data collection.