Min J, Kim B, Park H. The effects of auricular acupressure on the sleep of the elderly using polysomnography, actigraphy and blood test: Randomized, single-blind, sham control.
Complement Ther Clin Pract 2021;
45:101464. [PMID:
34352596 DOI:
10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101464]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM
This study was conducted to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on sleep in elderly people with sleep disorders.
METHODS
This was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. The participants aged over 65 years old were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 21) and the sham control group (n = 21). The participants in the experimental group and the sham control group received auricular acupressure on sleep-disorder-related points or to sleep-disorder-unrelated points, respectively. The intervention was implemented for a total of eight weeks. To validate the effects of the treatment, polysomnography with the Alice portable sleep diagnostic system; actigraphy with Fitbit Alta; and melatonin, serotonin, and cortisol blood tests were conducted.
RESULTS
Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 duration change (Z = -2.187, p = .029) and Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 ratio change (Z = -2.423, p = .014), measured by polysomnography, of the experimental group showed a significant increase over time compared to the sham control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Auricular acupressure applied for eight weeks was found to be effective in increasing Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 duration and Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 ratio among sleep stages of the elderly. Consequently, it showed that auricular acupressure can be used as a proven nursing intervention method for sleep disorder in elders to increase deep sleep duration and ratio.
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