Effectiveness of Acupressure on Anxiety, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality Among Operating Room Personnel: A Randomized Controlled Trial Publisher



Abjar R ; Nasiriformi E ; Kazemi A H ; Akbari H ; Sadati L
Source: Health Science Reports Published:2026

Abstract

Background and Aims: High-quality sleep, calmness, and lack of fatigue are vital for the health of critical hospital staff. Operating room personnel experience significant mental and physical stress, including anxiety and sleep disturbances. This study evaluates acupressure, a traditional complementary therapy, for reducing anxiety and exhaustion and improving sleep quality among OR staff at baseline. Methods: A clinical experiment with random allocation was conducted involving 70 operating room personnel experiencing at least two of the following conditions: anxiety, exhaustion, or sleep quality. Participants were allocated randomly to either an intervention group receiving acupressure or a comparison group undergoing simulated acupressure over a period of 4 weeks. The control group received simulated acupressure involving light touching near the acupoints without pressure. Standardized tools were utilized to measure anxiety, exhaustion, and sleep condition at the initial stage and at intervals of two and 4 weeks following the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: At baseline, no notable disparities were evident among the groups regarding anxiety or fatigue levels. Nevertheless, following the intervention, meaningful differences became apparent, favoring the acupressure cohort (p < 0.001). Likewise, a considerable variation in sleep condition trends was identified over time (p < 0.001), with the acupressure cohort demonstrating a marked enhancement in sleep condition. Conclusion: Acupressure demonstrates a significant positive effect in reducing anxiety and fatigue and improving sleep quality among operating room staff. These results endorse acupressure as an alternative, non-pharmacological strategy for addressing stress-related conditions in high-pressure work environments. © 2026 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.