Trial Outcomes & Findings for Effects of Acupressure on Nurses' Psychological Distress, Depression, Job Stress, Occupational Burnout, and Resilience (NCT NCT06946888)
NCT ID: NCT06946888
Last Updated: 2025-10-06
Results Overview
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Taiwanese Depression Scale, which has demonstrated strong psychometric properties in Taiwanese populations. The TDS consists of 18 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale: 0 = none or seldom (less than one day per week), 1 = sometimes (one to two days per week), 2 = often (three to four days per week), and 3 = almost always (five to seven days per week). Total scores range from 0 to 54, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms. The results from Lee et al. (2000) demonstrated that the TDS had excellent reliability and validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.90, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.92. The TDS also showed good concurrent validity, with a sensitivity of 0.89 and specificity of 0.92 at a cutoff score of 19. In the present study, the TDS demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of .94.
COMPLETED
NA
160 participants
At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)
2025-10-06
Participant Flow
Clinical nurses aged ≥20 years were pre-screened with a questionnaire, and those with an emotional distress score ≥3 (0-10 points) or an emotional thermometer score ≥4 after screening were included (this was the week 0 of enrollment).
Among those who met the criteria of emotional distress score ≥ 3 points (0-10 points) or emotional thermometer score ≥ 4 points, 160 subjects were selected and randomly divided into a control group or an acupoint massage group for an 8-week follow-up (the acupoint massage group was required to press the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints on their own in the first two weeks, and the control group received no intervention measures), and filled out questionnaires every week for post-test follow-up.
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Control Group
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
Participants perform self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan points twice daily for 2 weeks.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
80
|
80
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
80
|
80
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
0
|
0
|
Reasons for withdrawal
Withdrawal data not reported
Baseline Characteristics
After collecting the data of 160 subjects, we will analyze them into MEAN and Standard Deviation to see the overall distribution.
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants perform self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan points twice daily for 2 weeks.
|
Total
n=160 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Continuous
|
34.45 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.04 • n=80 Participants • After collecting the data of 160 subjects, we will analyze them into MEAN and Standard Deviation to see the overall distribution.
|
30.44 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.03 • n=80 Participants • After collecting the data of 160 subjects, we will analyze them into MEAN and Standard Deviation to see the overall distribution.
|
32.59 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.281 • n=160 Participants • After collecting the data of 160 subjects, we will analyze them into MEAN and Standard Deviation to see the overall distribution.
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Female
|
77 Participants
n=80 Participants • Use percentages to look at the distribution of male and female students in the control and intervention groups.
|
74 Participants
n=80 Participants • Use percentages to look at the distribution of male and female students in the control and intervention groups.
|
151 Participants
n=160 Participants • Use percentages to look at the distribution of male and female students in the control and intervention groups.
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Male
|
3 Participants
n=80 Participants • Use percentages to look at the distribution of male and female students in the control and intervention groups.
|
6 Participants
n=80 Participants • Use percentages to look at the distribution of male and female students in the control and intervention groups.
|
9 Participants
n=160 Participants • Use percentages to look at the distribution of male and female students in the control and intervention groups.
|
|
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
|
—
|
—
|
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
|
|
Region of Enrollment
Taiwan
|
80 Participants
n=80 Participants • All 160 subjects were admitted in Taiwan, so the number of people can be used to represent it.
|
80 Participants
n=80 Participants • All 160 subjects were admitted in Taiwan, so the number of people can be used to represent it.
|
160 Participants
n=160 Participants • All 160 subjects were admitted in Taiwan, so the number of people can be used to represent it.
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)Population: After the pre-test questionnaire assessment (baseline week 0), the subjects (control group/intervention group) will be followed up with a weekly questionnaire survey for eight weeks (weeks 1 to 8) after the start of the program. The depression questionnaire will obtain data for a total of nine weeks (baseline week 0 and follow-up weeks 1 to 8) and conduct data analysis.
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Taiwanese Depression Scale, which has demonstrated strong psychometric properties in Taiwanese populations. The TDS consists of 18 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale: 0 = none or seldom (less than one day per week), 1 = sometimes (one to two days per week), 2 = often (three to four days per week), and 3 = almost always (five to seven days per week). Total scores range from 0 to 54, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms. The results from Lee et al. (2000) demonstrated that the TDS had excellent reliability and validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.90, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.92. The TDS also showed good concurrent validity, with a sensitivity of 0.89 and specificity of 0.92 at a cutoff score of 19. In the present study, the TDS demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of .94.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants performed self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints twice a day for two weeks. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 1
|
11.76 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.20
|
11.55 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.76
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 3
|
12.05 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.22
|
10.86 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.51
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 5
|
12.54 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.84
|
10.95 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.98
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 6
|
12.66 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.63
|
10.93 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.22
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 2
|
11.70 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.51
|
10.84 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.12
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 4
|
13.35 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.39
|
10.59 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.02
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 7
|
12.05 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.24
|
10.16 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.19
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 8
|
12.31 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.64
|
10.51 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.62
|
|
Depressive Symptoms
Tracking Week 0
|
13.03 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.37
|
13.00 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.33
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)Population: After the pre-test questionnaire assessment (baseline week 0), the subjects (control group/intervention group) will be followed up with weekly questionnaires for eight weeks (weeks 1 to 8) after the start of the program, of which the Mood Thermometer (Brief Symptoms Rating Scale, BSRS-5) questionnaire will obtain data for a total of nine weeks (baseline week 0 and follow-up weeks 1 to 8) and conduct data analysis.
Psychological distress was measured using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale-5 (BSRS-5), a validated screening tool for general psychological distress. The BSRS-5 assesses the subjective severity of the following symptoms: (1) anxiety, (2) depression, (3) hostility, (4) low self-esteem, and (5) insomnia. Each symptom was scored on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely"), with a total score ranging from 0 to 20 points. Higher scores indicate more severe psychological distress. Studies have shown that a total score of 3-4 is the optimal threshold for identifying clinically relevant distress based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The BSRS-5 showed high accuracy (AUC = 0.92) and good sensitivity (0.83) and specificity (0.86). Therefore, this study used a BSRS-5 total score ≥4 as one of the inclusion criteria to ensure that participants with at least mild psychological distress were included in the study.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants performed self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints twice a day for two weeks. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 2
|
5.54 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.12
|
5.31 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.56
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 3
|
5.05 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.03
|
4.6 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.23
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 5
|
5.28 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.81
|
4.81 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.42
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 7
|
5.09 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.85
|
4.55 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.26
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 8
|
5.05 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.15
|
4.40 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.18
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 0
|
6.53 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.36
|
6.41 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.28
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 1
|
5.65 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.42
|
5.54 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.32
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 4
|
5.53 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.67
|
4.66 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.44
|
|
Psychological Distress
Tracking Week 6
|
4.99 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.80
|
4.48 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.39
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)Population: After the pre-test questionnaire assessment (baseline week 0), the subjects (control group/intervention group) will be followed up with weekly questionnaires for eight weeks (weeks 1 to 8) after the start of the program, of which the Resilience questionnaire will obtain data for a total of nine weeks (baseline week 0 and follow-up weeks 1 to 8) and conduct data analysis.
This scale assesses an individual's ability to adapt and recover from stress and adversity. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"), with a total score ranging from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater resilience. Initial validation studies demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including good model fit in confirmatory factor analysis (GFI = 0.973) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .91). All instruments used in this study were authorized by their original developers and have been psychometrically validated in previous studies. All scales demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's α values ranging from 0.84 to 0.95.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants performed self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints twice a day for two weeks. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 1
|
38.64 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.64
|
39.18 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.22
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 2
|
38.83 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.04
|
39.62 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.87
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 3
|
38.86 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.08
|
39.63 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.81
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 4
|
39.40 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.65
|
40.15 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.64
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 5
|
39.30 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.55
|
40.21 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.49
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 6
|
39.09 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.60
|
40.19 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.38
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 7
|
39.16 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.36
|
40.24 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.48
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 8
|
39.59 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.24
|
40.33 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.70
|
|
Resilience
Tracking Week 0
|
38.70 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.84
|
40.00 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.94
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)Population: After the pre-test questionnaire assessment (baseline week 0), the subjects (control group/intervention group) will be followed up with weekly questionnaires for eight weeks (weeks 1 to 8) after the start of the program. The anxiety questionnaire will obtain data for a total of nine weeks (baseline week 0 and follow-up weeks 1 to 8) and conduct data analysis.
Anxiety levels were assessed using the state subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S). Studies have confirmed the multidimensional factor structure of the Chinese version of the scale and demonstrated good psychometric properties, including adequate convergent and discriminant validity. In this sample, the STAI-S demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .95). The STAI-S consists of 20 items that assess anxiety-related feelings, thoughts, and behaviors at the time of assessment. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("not at all") to 4 ("very much"). Items 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16, 19, and 20 are reverse-scored. The total score ranges from 20 to 80, with scores between 20 and 39 indicating mild anxiety, 40 to 59 indicating moderate anxiety, and 60 to 80 indicating severe anxiety.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants performed self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints twice a day for two weeks. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 4
|
45.00 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.38
|
42.04 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.42
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 5
|
44.58 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.49
|
42.98 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.82
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 1
|
45.18 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.76
|
44.19 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.52
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 2
|
44.64 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.09
|
43.36 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.36
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 3
|
43.93 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.73
|
41.78 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.72
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 6
|
45.01 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.29
|
42.65 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.54
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 7
|
45.49 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.97
|
44.14 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.00
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 8
|
45.18 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.12
|
41.61 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.83
|
|
Anxiety
Tracking Week 0
|
46.15 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.20
|
45.41 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.96
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)Population: After the pre-test questionnaire assessment (baseline week 0), the subjects (control group/intervention group) will be followed up with weekly questionnaires for eight weeks (weeks 1 to 8) after the start of the program. The Nurse Stress questionnaire will obtain data for a total of nine weeks (baseline week 0 and follow-up weeks 1 to 8) and conduct data analysis.
Perceived job stress was measured using the 14-item Work Pressure Inventory developed by Huang et al. (2017), which has demonstrated good internal consistency. The scale comprises three dimensions: low self-development, workload, and job characteristics. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"), with total scores ranging from 14 to 70. Higher scores indicate greater perceived occupational stress. In the original validation study, the Cronbach's α coefficients for the three subscales were 0.81, 0.73, and 0.77, respectively. In the present study, the Work Pressure Inventory showed good overall internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .84).
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants performed self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints twice a day for two weeks. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 3
|
45.64 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.52
|
44.90 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.33
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 5
|
45.95 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.28
|
44.89 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.08
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 7
|
45.53 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.09
|
45.18 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.30
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 8
|
45.93 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.23
|
44.89 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.11
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 0
|
45.55 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.13
|
45.31 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.79
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 1
|
45.80 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.29
|
45.10 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.87
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 2
|
45.98 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.35
|
45.63 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.14
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 4
|
45.66 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.02
|
44.74 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.71
|
|
Job Stress
Tracking Week 6
|
45.26 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.81
|
45.29 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.58
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)Population: After the pre-test questionnaire assessment (baseline week 0), the subjects (control group/intervention group) will be followed up with weekly questionnaires for eight weeks (weeks 1 to 8) after the start of the program. The workplace fatigue questionnaire will obtain data for a total of nine weeks (baseline week 0 and follow-up weeks 1 to 8) and conduct data analysis.
Occupational burnout was assessed using the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), which has demonstrated good psychometric properties in Taiwanese populations. The scale consists of four subscales: personal burnout, work-related burnout, client-related burnout, and overcommitment to work. Each item is rated on a five-point frequency scale: "always" (100), "often" (75), "sometimes" (50), "rarely" (25), and "never" (0). Subscale scores are calculated as the average of the items within each domain, ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe occupational burnout. The original validation study reported Cronbach's α values above 0.84 across all subscales. In the present study, the scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .95).
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants performed self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints twice a day for two weeks. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 1
|
48.20 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 14.77
|
49.05 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 15.64
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 2
|
48.60 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 14.92
|
48.44 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.48
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 3
|
46.53 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 14.19
|
46.46 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.86
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 4
|
46.90 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.19
|
46.86 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.40
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 5
|
48.33 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.21
|
47.43 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.67
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 6
|
48.47 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 18.48
|
46.62 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.94
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 7
|
48.60 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.46
|
46.53 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 19.45
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 8
|
48.74 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 18.80
|
46.24 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 19.66
|
|
Occupational Burnout
Tracking Week 0
|
49.97 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 15.19
|
49.79 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 15.74
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: At baseline(weeks 0) and once weekly for 8 weeks(weeks 1-8)Population: After the pre-test questionnaire assessment (baseline week 0), the subjects (control group/intervention group) will be followed up with weekly questionnaires for eight weeks (weeks 1 to 8) after the start of the program. A total of nine weeks (baseline week 0 and follow-up weeks 1 to 8) of Distress Thermometer questionnaire data will be obtained and analyzed.
Emotional distress was measured using the Distress Thermometer (DT), a single self-report screening instrument with a score range of 0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress), with higher scores indicating greater emotional distress. The DT demonstrated good psychometric properties in validation studies, with sensitivities ranging from 0.50 to 1.00 (median = 0.83) and specificities ranging from 0.36 to 0.98 (median = 0.68). This study used a DT cutoff score of ≥3 as the inclusion criterion. Other studies have shown that the optimal DT cutoff score varies across settings, typically ranging from 3 to 5, while thresholds of ≥4 or ≥5 are commonly used in clinical practice. The use of a score of ≥3 in this study was intended to maximize sensitivity and minimize the risk of underidentifying caregivers considered at high risk for psychological distress.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Control Group
n=80 Participants
Care continued in the original manner without any intervention.Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
n=80 Participants
Participants performed self-acupressure on the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints twice a day for two weeks. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire (including the Taiwanese Depression Scale) every week (starting day + 7 days/14 days/21 days/28 days, etc.) for 2 months after the start of the program. The results were analyzed after the 2-month follow-up.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 1
|
3.95 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.95
|
3.84 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.91
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 2
|
3.59 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.93
|
3.43 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.84
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 3
|
3.41 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.95
|
3.18 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.68
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 4
|
3.48 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.02
|
3.09 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.83
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 5
|
3.35 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.97
|
3.28 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.97
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 6
|
3.38 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.88
|
3.2 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.07
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 7
|
2.93 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.71
|
3.30 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.01
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 8
|
3.26 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.83
|
3.23 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.07
|
|
Emotional Distress
Tracking Week 0
|
4.01 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.90
|
3.94 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.00
|
Adverse Events
Control Group
Intervention Group (Acupressure)
Serious adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Other adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Additional Information
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place