Lee Kwo-Chen, Chao Yann-Fen C, Lin Yun-Ping, Wang Hsiao-Chiao
Author Affiliations: School of Nursing, China Medical University, and Department of Nursing, China Medical University Hospital (Drs Lee, Lin, and Wang); and College of Nursing, Hungkuang University (Dr Chao), Taichung, Taiwan.
Cancer Nurs. 2022;45(1):E1-E9. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000870.
Sleep disturbances are common among family caregivers (FCs) of patients with advanced cancer. Self-administered acupressure can combat insomnia, but no study has been conducted to evaluate its efficacy in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether self-administered acupressure improves sleep quality for FCs of patients with advanced cancer.
Family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer who reported sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores >5 in recent months) were recruited. The experimental group self-administered acupressure at the Baihui (GV20), Fengchi (GB20), Neiguan (PC6), and Shenmen (HT7) points over a 12-week period, whereas the comparison group received sleep hygiene education. Sleep quality was assessed subjectively at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and objectively using actigraphy measurements. Improvements in sleep quality were analyzed using a generalized estimating equation.
Compared with the control group, the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower sleep latency (Wald χ2 = 11.49, P = .001) and significantly better sleep efficiency (Wald χ2 = 5.24, P = .02) according to actigraphy measurements, but Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores did not differ significantly between the groups.
Self-administered acupressure did not demonstrate favorable effects on subjective sleep quality, but did reduce sleep latency and improve sleep efficiency, according to actigraphy measurements. Self-administered acupressure may help relaxation and sedation and promote sleep in FCs.
Healthcare providers may consider advising FCs to apply this self-administered acupressure to improve their sleep latency and sleep efficiency.
晚期癌症患者的家庭照护者（FCs）中睡眠障碍很常见。自我按压穴位可对抗失眠，但尚未有研究评估其对晚期癌症患者照护者的疗效。
本研究旨在调查自我按压穴位是否能改善晚期癌症患者家庭照护者的睡眠质量。
招募近几个月匹兹堡睡眠质量指数评分>5且报告有睡眠障碍的晚期癌症患者的家庭照护者。实验组在12周内自行按压百会（GV20）、风池（GB20）、内关（PC6）和神门（HT7）穴位，而对照组接受睡眠卫生教育。干预后4周、8周和12周，使用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数主观评估睡眠质量，并使用活动记录仪进行客观测量。使用广义估计方程分析睡眠质量的改善情况。
根据活动记录仪测量，与对照组相比，实验组的睡眠潜伏期显著缩短（Wald χ2 = 11.49，P = .001），睡眠效率显著提高（Wald χ2 = 5.24，P = .02），但两组的匹兹堡睡眠质量指数评分无显著差异。
自我按压穴位对主观睡眠质量未显示出有利影响，但根据活动记录仪测量，确实缩短了睡眠潜伏期并提高了睡眠效率。自我按压穴位可能有助于放松和镇静，并促进家庭照护者的睡眠。
医疗保健提供者可考虑建议家庭照护者应用这种自我按压穴位的方法来改善他们的睡眠潜伏期和睡眠效率。
