The Efficacy of Acupressure in Managing Opioid-induced Constipation

Constipation symptom, which is very common in patients using opioids, affects the quality of life of the patients and may increase the severity of other symptoms. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods can be used in the management of opioid-associated constipation. One of the non-pharmacological approaches used is acupressure application. The effects of acupressure to increase bowel movements have been shown in studies. The study was planned to examine the effect of acupressure on opioid-related constipation. The goals that achieve this goal; To evaluate gastrointestinal functions in patients using opioid drugs, to examine and alleviate the effect of acupressure application on gastrointestinal functions (stool frequency, stool type, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness) in these patients, their quality of life (anxiety / anxiety states, physical, psychological discomfort) to evaluate and improve situations, satisfaction situations). Study Population and Sample The research will be conducted in Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Hospital Algology Outpatient Clinic and Service. The universe of the study will consist of all patients followed in the Algology outpatient clinic and service. The sample of the study will consist of all patients who meet the inclusion criteria and who are willing to participate in the study. The patients enrolled in the study will be divided into intervention and control groups using the previously prepared randomization checklist. Procedures In a randomized controlled study to evaluate the effect of acupressure application on opioid-related constipation, the Patient Identification Form, Defecation Diary, Visual Comparison Scale and Constipation Quality of Life Scale will be applied after obtaining written informed consent from the patients. Patients in the intervention group will be given acupressure once a day for 7 consecutive days. Acupressure application will be applied by researchers who have been trained and certified on this subject. While the patients are in supine position, pressure will be applied to each acupressure point around the navel, respectively, Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4) and Tianshu (ST25) for 2 minutes for a total of 6 minutes. No attempt will be made to the control group. All patients will be followed for a total of 4 weeks and the Defecation Diary and Visual Comparison Scale will be applied weekly.No intervention will be applied to the control group.