Effect of P6 Point Acupressure on Anxiety Caused by Venipuncture in Patients with Thalassemia: A Clinical Trial Study

Aims: Anxiety caused by repeated venipuncture is common in patients with thalassemia in the thalassemia ward. Acupressure is one of the methods used to reduce patients’ anxiety. This study aimed to determine the effect of the P6 point acupressure on anxiety caused by venipuncture in thalassemia patients. Materials Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients with thalassemia at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Yasuj city in 2019, who were divided into two intervention and control groups by blocked random allocation. Acupressure intervention was performed at P6 point on the inner side of the arm and in the cavity between the bones of the forearm, above the crease of the wrist. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to collect information. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test) through SPSS 21 software. Findings: There was no significant difference in the state and trait anxiety between the intervention and control groups at the beginning of the study (p 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in the state anxiety between the intervention and control groups after the intervention (p 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the trait anxiety score between the two groups (p 0.05). Conclusion: Acupressure reduces trait anxiety caused by venipuncture in thalassemia patients hospitalized to the thalassemia ward, while it does not affect their trait anxiety.