The effect of acupressure application on reducing pain during phlebotomy in children diagnosed with thalassemia

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of acupressure application on reducing the pain of phlebotomy in children diagnosed with Thalassemia. Methods: The study, which was a single-center, randomized controlled experimental, was conducted with 39 children diagnosed with Thalassemia, aged 6-18, who were admitted to the Pediatric Hematology Day Service between February 1 and June 2, 2022. Children who had no pain before the study, who were registered at the center where the research would be conducted, and who did not have any other chronic diseases were randomized to the acupressure group and the no-acupressure (Sham) group by lottery method. To the acupressure group (n=19), acupressure was applied to the designated acupressure points by the researcher for a total of 12 minutes and a single session, 2 minutes for each point. In the Sham group (n=20), where no acupressure was applied, the designated placebo point was only touched. The data of the study were collected using the Personal Data Collection Form and Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. Pain assessment on the scale was made by the child, parent and researcher before and after the procedure. Descriptive statistics from the data; Expressed as percentage, mean, frequency, standard deviation and median (minimum-maximum). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine whether the variables were compatible with normal distribution. For normally distributed continuous variables, independent groups t-test is used to compare the means of two independent groups; T-test was used in dependent groups to compare the means of two dependent groups. Wilcoxon test for comparing measurement values of two dependent groups that do not show normal distribution; Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the measurement values of two independent groups. Results: The groups are similar in terms of their descriptive characteristics (p>0.05). It was determined that the pain score averages, heart rate and oxygen saturations of the acupressure group were significantly different compared to the non-acupressure (Sham) group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Acupressure application is recommended as a non-pharmacological method that is effective in reducing the pain of phlebotomy in children diagnosed with Thalassemia and that nurses can apply independently in clinical practice.