Research: MOVAHEDI and COLLEAGUES,

Listed in Issue 272

Abstract

MOVAHEDI and COLLEAGUES, 1. Master of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. maryam.movahedi@nm.mui.ac.ir ; 2. Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. somayehghafari@nm.mui.ac.ir ; 3. PhD Student of Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Adult Health Nursing Dept. Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. nazari@nm.mui.ac.ir ; 4. Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. valiani@nm.mui.ac.ir  set out to investigate the effect of acupressure on fatigue among female nurses with chronic back pain.

Background

Chronic back pain is one of the most common problems among nurses and has numerous physical and psychological effects. One of these effects is fatigue that impairs an individual's life.

Methodology

This randomized single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 50 nurses with chronic back pain working at the selected hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. After convenient sampling, the subjects were randomly allocated, through lottery, to the two groups of experimental (n=25) and sham (n=25). In the experimental group, acupressure techniques were performed during 9 sessions, 3 times a week for 14min for each patient. In the sham group, points within 1cm of the main points were only touched. Data were collected using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), before, and immediately, 2weeks, and 4weeks after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Results

The mean score of fatigue severity before the intervention was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.990). However, it was significantly lower in the experimental group than the sham group immediately (P<0.001), 2weeks (P=0.005), and 1month after the intervention (P<0.001).

Conclusion

Acupressure on specific points of the foot and back improves back pain so, reduces fatigue. Therefore, acupressure can be used as a drug-free and low-cost approach without side effects to improve fatigue in nurses with chronic back pain. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

References

Movahedi M1, Ghafari S2, Nazari F3, Valiani M4. The effect of acupressure on fatigue among female nurses with chronic back pain. Appl Nurs Res. 36:111-114. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2017.06.006. Epub Jun 15 2017. Aug 2017.

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