Context Pruritus develops for various reasons at any stage of treatment for the majority of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) due to end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Today, many nonpharmacological treatment methods, including acupressure, are used to relieve the discomfort experienced by patients due to pruritus. Acupressure has been proven to reduce the intensity of pruritus when it is used alone or in combination with pharmacologic methods. Objective This study was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure on pruritus in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. Design This study was a nonrandomized, controlled trial. Setting The study occurred at four hemodialysis centers in Turkey. Participants Seventy-eight patients, 38 in the intervention group (IG) and 40 in the control group (CG), met the inclusion criteria and completed the study. Intervention The IG received acupressure that was applied using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) acupressure apparatus, and the control group (CG) received no acupressure. The study used the SP6, ST36, SP10, and LI11 acupuncture points, with acupressure occurring three times/wk for 6 wks for a total of 18 sessions. Outcome Measures The study's data were collected using a patient identification form, a visual analogue scale (VAS), and a pruritus score. Results It was found that IG participants' mean VAS and pruritus scores significantly decreased at wk 6 (P < .001), as compared to the CG, and that the decrease showed a stable trend in wks 12 and 18 (P > .05). The IG was observed to use less medication than the CG throughout the study (P < .001). Conclusion • It was concluded that acupressure provided to hemodialysis patients was effective in reducing pruritus. The research team suggests that the use of acupressure should be expanded by informing HD patients and nurses working in HD units about the benefits of acupressure.
PMID: 23981400

Effect of acupressure on patients in Turkey receiving hemodialysis treatment for uremic pruritus.