Effect of Acupressure on Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, and Hopelessness in Older Adults (ACU-ELDER)

The Effect of Acupressure on Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, and Hopelessness in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of acupressure on quality of life, sleep quality, and hopelessness levels in older adults living in a nursing home setting. Aging is associated with decreased sleep quality, reduced life satisfaction, and increased psychological distress, including hopelessness. Non-pharmacological and low-risk interventions are increasingly needed to improve well-being in older populations.

In this study, 50 participants aged 65 years and older were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (acupressure) or a control group (no intervention). The intervention group received acupressure applied to Shenmen (HT7), Neiguan (P6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points three times per week for four weeks. The control group received routine care without additional intervention.

Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention using the CASP-19 Quality of Life Scale, the Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The study evaluates whether acupressure can serve as a safe and effective complementary nursing intervention to improve sleep and overall well-being in older adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sleep Disturbance; Aging; Hopelessness
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Acupressure

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effect of acupressure on quality of life, sleep quality, and hopelessness among older adults residing in a nursing home.

A total of 50 participants aged 65 years and older were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=25) or the control group (n=25) using simple randomization. Eligibility criteria included being 65 years or older, residing in the nursing home, and having the ability to read and understand study materials. Individuals with skin lesions, infection, sensory loss in acupressure areas, or those unwilling to participate were excluded.

The intervention group received acupressure applied to bilateral Shenmen (HT7), Neiguan (P6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points. Each point was stimulated manually for approximately two minutes per session. The intervention was administered three times per week for four consecutive weeks by a trained researcher. The control group received routine institutional care without additional intervention.

Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention. Quality of life was measured using the CASP-19 scale, sleep quality was evaluated using the Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, and hopelessness levels were measured using the Beck Hopelessness Scale.

Data were analyzed using independent-samples t tests and paired-samples t tests. The study aimed to determine whether acupressure could improve sleep quality and quality of life and reduce hopelessness in older adults. This intervention represents a low-cost, non-invasive complementary nursing approach that may support holistic elderly care.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Kars, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Kafkas Üniversity

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 65 years or older
• Residing in the nursing home where the study was conducted
• Able to communicate verbally
• Able to read and understand the questionnaires
• Volunteered to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of skin lesions, wounds, or infection at acupressure points
• Diagnosed cognitive impairment preventing questionnaire completion
• Severe hearing or communication problems
• Receiving another complementary therapy during the study period
• Refusal to continue participation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Acupressure Group; Participants received manual acupressure applied to Shenmen (HT7), Neiguan (P6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points three times per week for four weeks in addition to routine care.	Other: Acupressure; Manual acupressure was applied bilaterally to HT7, P6, and SP6 points. Each point was stimulated for approximately two minutes per session. The intervention was administered three times weekly for four consecutive weeks by a trained researcher.
No Intervention: Control Group; Participants received routine institutional care without additional intervention during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Sleep Quality Score	Sleep quality was assessed using the Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better sleep quality. The primary endpoint was the change in total score from baseline to week 4.	Baseline (Week 0) and Week 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Quality of Life Score	Quality of life was measured using the CASP-19 scale. Total scores range from 0 to 57, with higher scores indicating better quality of life. Change from baseline to week 4 was analyzed.	Baseline (Week 0) and Week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kocaeli Sağlık ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi
• Collaborators: Kafkas University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 20, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 20, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Quality of Life; Older Adults; Sleep Quality; Acupressure; Hopelessness
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Parasomnias; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Therapeutics; Complementary Therapies; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Acupressure
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024-TS-73

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared, including baseline demographic characteristics (age, sex), group allocation, and outcome measure scores (Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, CASP-19 Quality of Life Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale) collected at baseline and at week 4. No personally identifiable information will be included in the shared dataset.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Individual participant data will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the study results and ending 5 years after publication.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Access to de-identified individual participant data, study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and analytic code will be granted to researchers who provide a methodologically sound research proposal. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author. Data will be shared after approval by the study investigators and signing of a data use agreement. Data will be provided in electronic format.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No