Comparing the Effect of Acupressure and Reflexology on Sleep Condition Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Background and purpose: Sleep disorders after heart surgery lead to increased heart rate, increased myocardial oxygen demand, and cause dysrhythmia that worsen heart ischemia. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of acupressure and reflexology on sleep condition following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed in 60 patients. They were randomly assigned into three groups. Two intervention groups; reflexology (n=20) and acupressure (n=20), and a control group (n=20). For three to six days after the surgery, foot reflexology and acupressure were done for 30 min and 21 min, respectively. St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire was administered for five consecutive days for each group. Data was analyzed in SPSS V25. Results: The General Estimated Equation (GEE) showed that, compared to acupressure, reflexology significantly improved duration of the last day sleep (P<0.001). The depth of sleep and last night's sleep satisfaction were significantly higher in acupressure group than reflexology group (P<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, reflexology and acupressure led to higher last night's sleep satisfaction. Compared to reflexology, acupressure is performed in less time and is more effective. Therefore, it can be an appropriate non pharmacological treatment following open heart surgery.   (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20110906007494N29)