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Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupressure for Perception of Stress and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Self-Acupressure for Stress (SAS) Trial
The efficacy of providing self-acupressure educational materials in reducing stress and improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is uncertain. Evidence-based data to recommend for or against self-acupressure as an intervention for reducing stress and improving HRQOL is needed.
Objective
The Self-Acupressure for Stress (SAS) trial evaluates whether providing self-acupressure educational materials would reduce stress and improve HRQOL among health care providers (HCPs).
Design
Randomized behavioral clinical trial.
Setting
The entire study took place remotely.
Participants
One hundred fifty-nine adult HCPs with no prior experience or training in acupressure.
Intervention
The intervention group received self-acupressure educational materials.
Measurements
Primary outcomes were perception of stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), as well as scores on the physical and mental components of the 12-item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2).
Results
From the baseline to midpoint evaluations, the intervention group significantly reduced their PSS score (P ≤ .001) and increased their SF-12v2 Mental score (P = .002) but not their SF-12v2 Physical score (P = .55). These findings persisted at the final follow-up (both PSS and SF-12v2 Mental changes from baseline P < .001). However the control group also significantly improved their SF-12v2 Mental from baseline to midpoint (P = .01) which was maintained at final follow-up (P = .02), whereas PSS and SF-12v2 Physical did not significantly change from baseline at either mid or final. Finally, the intervention group improved by significantly more than the control group from baseline to final follow-up for both PSS (P = .007) and SF-12v2 Mental (P = .02) HRQOL measures.
Limitation
The trial was not blinded.
Conclusion
Among HCPs during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the provision of self-acupressure educational materials safely improved self-reported assessments of perception of stress and mental health. Self-acupressure represents a promising intervention for other populations. The study findings support the use of self-acupressure to reduce stress and improve HRQOL.
