Asal Maha Gamal Ramadan, El-Sayed Ahmed Abdelwahab Ibrahim, Alsenany Samira Ahmed, Ramzy Zahraa Hassan, Dawood Rasha Fathy Ahmed
Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Nursing Administration Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
BMC Nurs. 2025 Jan 28;24(1):106. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-02594-5.
Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) significantly impacts patients' quality of life, with existing treatments offering limited relief. Self-administered acupressure presents a potential non-invasive, cost-effective treatment option that could alleviate symptoms and enhance health outcomes in these patients.
This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of active acupressure compared to sham acupressure on primary and secondary outcomes among IBS-D patients.
The study included 63 patients with IBS-D, recruited from Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt. Participants were randomized into either an active acupressure group or a sham acupressure group. Both groups underwent two days of training, followed by four weeks of intervention. The active group applied pressure to specific therapeutic acupoints, while the sham group used non-therapeutic points. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 4.
The active acupressure group showed a significant reduction in symptom severity, improved stool consistency, and frequency, and greater adequate symptom relief by week 4 compared to the sham group. Psychological outcomes, including anxiety and depression, also improved significantly in the active group. Additionally, the active group reported reduced use of rescue medications.
Active acupressure is an effective nursing intervention for alleviating symptoms of IBS-D, particularly when applied consistently over time. It improves both physical and psychological outcomes, offering a valuable non-pharmacological treatment option.
Nurses can integrate self-administered acupressure into IBS-D care plans, teaching patients this technique to manage symptoms independently, thus enhancing their quality of life (QOL) and reducing reliance on conventional medications. This intervention aligns with holistic nursing care and offers a cost-effective, patient-friendly solution for managing IBS-D.
This study was prospectively registered as a randomized controlled trial in https://clinicaltrials.gov/ Registration Date: January 7, 2023, Registration Number: NCT05702255.
腹泻型肠易激综合征（IBS-D）对患者的生活质量有显著影响，现有治疗方法的缓解效果有限。自我实施的指压疗法是一种潜在的非侵入性、经济有效的治疗选择，可以缓解这些患者的症状并改善健康结局。
这项随机对照试验旨在评估与假指压疗法相比，主动指压疗法对IBS-D患者主要和次要结局的影响。
该研究纳入了63例来自埃及亚历山大主大学医院的IBS-D患者。参与者被随机分为主动指压疗法组或假指压疗法组。两组均接受了为期两天的培训，随后进行了四周的干预。主动组对特定的治疗穴位施加压力，而假治疗组使用非治疗穴位。在基线、第2周和第4周评估结局。
与假指压疗法组相比，主动指压疗法组在第4周时症状严重程度显著降低，粪便稠度和频率得到改善，症状缓解更充分。主动组的心理结局，包括焦虑和抑郁，也有显著改善。此外，主动组报告救援药物的使用减少。
主动指压疗法是缓解IBS-D症状的有效护理干预措施，尤其是长期持续应用时。它改善了身体和心理结局，提供了一种有价值的非药物治疗选择。
护士可以将自我实施的指压疗法纳入IBS-D护理计划，教导患者使用这种技术独立管理症状，从而提高他们的生活质量（QOL）并减少对传统药物的依赖。这种干预措施符合整体护理理念，为管理IBS-D提供了一种经济有效、患者友好的解决方案。
本研究已在https://clinicaltrials.gov/上作为随机对照试验进行前瞻性注册。注册日期：2023年1月7日，注册号：NCT05702255。
