The Effect of Self Acupressure Application on Pain, Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Multiple Myeloma Patients

Multiple Myeloma occurs with damaging bone lesion, hypercalcemia, anemia and renal failure as a result of secretion of monoclonal protein in serum and/or urea and accumulation of plasma cells. The most common symptoms at the time of diagnosis are; fatigue, insomnia, bone pain and recurrent infections. In multiple myeloma patients, pain, fatigue and sleep problems are conditions that significantly affect the daily life activities of the individual and require planned nursing interventions for the solution. In this challenging process, a holistic approach should be adopted while planning the care practices of the patients, and non-pharmacological practices should be planned, which will enable the patient to perform the activities of daily life with minimum energy and maximum function. Acupressure, one of the non-pharmacological applications, is a complementary medicine method that ensures the proper functioning of the energy channels by applying pressure to the points on the energy-carrying meridians (these points are the same as acupuncture points) with fingers, palms or wrist bands without using needles, unlike acupuncture. In the literature, it is stated that acupressure is a pain-relieving, relaxing analgesic and immune system-strengthening supportive method rather than its therapeutic effect, and it relieves insomnia and fatigue and relieves the person. In addition, within the scope of the harmonization model; By teaching acupressure to patients by nurses, patients can be actively involved in their own symptom management. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the effect of self-acupressure applied to patients with multiple myeloma on pain, fatigue and sleep quality. The research will be conducted as a randomized, experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group. The sample of the study will consist of 52 Multiple Myeloma patients, 26 experimental and 26 control groups, who met the research criteria and accepted the study, between August 2022 and January 2023, in Hematology Clinic and Polyclinic of Fırat University Hospital. Patients in the experimental group will be asked to perform self-acupressure by showing and teaching the LI4, HT 7, ST36 and SP6 acupressure points by the researcher. Depending on the preparation and compression time on these 4 points, the patients will be asked to perform a total of 16 sessions for 4 weeks, for a total of 18 minutes, 2 days a week in the morning and afternoon. The 1st measurement will be obtained by applying the Patient Information Form, Visual Analog Scale "Pitssburg Sleep Quality Index (PUKI)" and Piper Fatigue Scale" to the patients in the experimental group at the pre-test stage before the application. After 4 weeks, the Pitssburg Sleep Quality Index (PUKI) and The second measurement will be obtained by applying the "Piper Fatigue Scale" again. No application will be made to the patients in the control group. In the pre-test phase, the 1st measurement will be obtained by applying only the Patient Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, Pitssburg Sleep Quality Index (PUKI) and Piper Fatigue Scale. After 4 weeks, in the post-test phase, the second measurement will be obtained by re-applying the other forms except the Patient Information Form. The data will be analyzed using the SPSS 23 program. Shapiro Wilk test, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test and Chi-square analysis will be used in the analysis of the data.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

80 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

Having a scale score of \>5 on the Piper Fatigue Scale Having a score of \>5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale Pain severity is 5 points or higher according to the Visual Analog Scale

Exclusion criteria; Using acupressure and similar integrative treatment methods, Having a verbal communication disability (hearing and speaking), Having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder,