Self-administered acupressure for insomnia disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Author: Wing Fai Yeung1, Branda Yee-Man Yu2, Ka-Fai Chung3, Zhang-Jin Zhang4, Lixing Lao5, Fiona Yan-Yee Ho6, Lorna Kwai-Ping Suen7, Lai-Ming Ho8
Affiliation:
1 School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HKSAR, China; Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HKSAR, China. Electronic address: jerry-wf.yeung@polyu.edu.hk.
2 Department of Psychology, the University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
3 Department of Psychiatry, the University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
4 School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
5 Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, USA.
6 Department of Psychology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
7 School of Nursing, Tung Wah College, HKSAR, China.
8 School of Public Health, the University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
Conference/Journal: Phytomedicine
Date published: 2022 Feb 15
Other:
Volume ID: 99 , Pages: 153993 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.153993. , Word Count: 233
Background:
Insomnia is a significant health problem in the community. Self-administered acupressure (SAA) may be an alternative strategy to alleviate insomnia.
Purpose:
This study is the first to investigate the effects of SAA delivered through a training course in alleviating insomnia disorder compared with sleep hygiene education (SHE).
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 200 participants with insomnia disorder. The eligible participants were randomized into the SAA or SHE group. Both groups attended the allocated training courses (two sessions, 2 h each) and then were followed up at weeks 4 and 8. The primary outcome was the severity of insomnia symptoms and related daytime impairment as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Other measures included a 7-day sleep diary and actigraphy, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Short-Form Six-Dimension (SF6D).
Results:
The SAA group showed a significantly greater improvement in ISI score than the SHE group at week 4 (mean difference: -1.89 units, 95% CI: 0.85, 2.93; Cohen's d = 0.51, p < 0.001) and week 8 (mean difference: -2.89 units, 95% CI: 1.67, 4.11; d = 0.67, p < 0.001). In addition, the SAA group showed a greater reduction in the HADS anxiety score and HADS depression score and increase in SF6D at week 8.
Conclusions:
SAA taught in a short training course is a feasible and effective approach to improve sleep and related daytime impairment and mood problems in individuals with insomnia disorder.
Keywords: Acupuncture; Self-acupressure; Self-help; Sleep; Sleep hygiene.
PMID: 35193046 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.153993
BACK
