Effects of Semen Sinapsis Albae Acupressure on Fatigue and Sleep Related Chemotherapy in Patients with Breast Cancer

백개자 경혈 지압이 항암화학요법을 받는 유방암 환자의 피로 및 수면에 미치는 효과

Purpose: This study was done to identify the effects of semen sinapsis albae acupressure on fatigue and sleep among patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast neoplasms. Methods: The design was a nonequivalent control group nonsynchronized design. Participants were 46 hospitalized patients (23 in the experimental group and 23 in the control group) who were undergoing chemotherapy during November and December 2014. The experimental group underwent routine chemotherapy nursing care and at the same time received acupressure on the spots of Zoksamli, Samumgyo and Shinmun. The control group underwent routine chemotherapy nursing care. The data were analyzed using test and t-test with the SPSS 21.0 program. Results: The level of fatigue in the experimental group was lower than in the control group (t=5.82, p<.001). The level of sleep in the experimental group was higher than in the control group (t=-5.16, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that acupressure is an effective nursing intervention to decrease fatigue and increase sleep in patients with breast neoplasm undergoing chemotherapy.