Effect of acupressure on dyspnea and anxiety in individuals with COPD

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of acupressure applied to individuals with COPD on dyspnea and anxiety. A total of 60 patients, 30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group, were included in the study from the Chest Diseases outpatient clinics of Ömer Halisdemir Education and Research Hospital. Data of the study were collected using the Patient Identification Form, Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (MBS), Medical Research Council (MRC) Dyspnea Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Patient Follow-up Schedule. Acupressure was applied to individuals in the intervention group once a day, five days a week for one month, for a total of 20 sessions. Applications lasted 16 minutes in total for two minutes on the acupressure points LI4, HT7, LU1, ST36 (including symmetrical points). In the study, it was determined that the dyspnea and anxiety levels of the individuals decreased after acupressure application (p<0.05). Additionally, a positive and moderate correlation was found between dyspnea and anxiety scores. (p <0.001). In line with these results; It was recommended that acupressure application, which is a non-pharmacological method, be widespread in individuals with COPD and that comparative evidence-based studies be conducted with different sample groups and different applications.