The effect of acupressure on postoperative pain of lumbar disc hernia

The effect of acupressure on postoperative pain of lumbar disc hernia Background: This study has been conducted for the purpose of examining the effect of acupressure on postoperatıve paın of lumbar disc hernia. Methods: This research was conducted between January 2015- July 2016 at the Neurosurgery Clinics of Turgut Özal İnönü University and Malatya State Hospital as a quasi-experimental research with pretest-posttest designs. The study population consisted of patients who were hospitalized in these clinics after operation of lumbar disc hernia. The sample group consisted of 112 patients selected with random sampling and stayed in these clinics after the power analysis (56 test, 56 control). This research data was collected between January 2016 - March 2016. Patient identification forms and visual analog scales (VAS) were used for data collection. Patient identification form was applied to the patients in the experimental group, after acupressure was applied to patients for 15-20 minutes, their level was determined with the VAS. When the acupressure was stopped, their pain was determined with the VAS. Whereas in the control group, their pain was determined with the VAS and taking the end of the time during which acupressure was applied to experimental group into consideration, their pain level was reevaluated in the 20th minute. Data were evaluated with percentage, arithmetic average, chi-square test and independent groups t test. Results: The research result showed that owing to the effect of acupressure the pain level of the experimental group decreased from 7.75±1.67 to 2.58±1.18. (p= .00). Conclusions: Hence this result suggests the effectiveness of acupressure on postoperatıve paın of lumbar disc hernia. Keywords: Lumbar disc hernia, nursing, patient, postoperative pain, acupressure.