Investigation of the effect of acupressure applied to patients with atrial fi̇brillation on some vital findings and oxygen saturation

INVESTİGATİON OF THE EFFECT OF ACUPRESSURE APPLİED TO PATİENTS WİTH ATRİAL FİBRİLLATİON ON SOME VİTAL FİNDİNGS AND OXYGEN SATURATİON Atrial Fibrillation (AF) affects 1-2% of the population. This study was carried out to determine the effect of acupressure on some vital signs and oxygen saturation in patients with AFThe study was designed as a placebo-controlled experimental study. After the approval of ethics committee, verbally informed consent was obtained from the individuals complying with research limitations in coronary intensive care unit and the research was completed with 69 individuals consisted of 23 in control, 23 in placebo and 23 in experimental group. The data were collected by the researcher using face to face interview method. The control group included in the study did not undergo any procedure, while the patients in the placebo group had been indicated to wear the wristband for pressure on the Shenmen (HT7) point and for the acupressure treatment; however, the wristband was worn directly on the wrist without observing the Shenmen(HT7) point, also loosely and inversely, and no pressure was applied. In the experimental group, after the acupressure wristband was worn in a way to ensure correct and sufficient pressure on the Shenmen (HT7) point, acupress performed twice in the same day. Blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and saturation values of all patients were recorded before and after the procedure via the monitor. All data were obtained with the help of devices and no manual measurement was made. Kruskal Wallis Analysis Of Variance, Fisher Chi-Square Test, All Pairvise Comparisons (Post Hoc) and Wilcoxon Tests were used to evaluate the data. The decrease in heart rate and saturation value of experimental group were found significant (p <0.05). Acupressin did not have any effect on blood pressure and respiration in all study groups. Acupressin applied to patients with AF decreased heart rate and increased oxygen sturation. According to this result, repeated acupressin may be recommended in addition to pharmacological treatment to reduce heart rate and increase oxygen saturation in AF. Keywords: Acupressure; Blood Pressure; Pulse; Respiration; Oxygen Saturation.