Effect of Acupressure on Anxiety, Embarrassment, and Procedural Fear in Patients Undergoing Urodynamic Testing: Randomized Controlled Study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of acupressure on anxiety, embarrassment, and procedural fear in patients undergoing urodynamic testing (UT). METHODS: A prospective, two-arm, randomized controlled study was conducted with 68 patients scheduled for UT. Patients were randomly assigned to the study group or the control group. Patients in the study group received acupressure at the HT7, EX-HN3, and LI4 points before the procedure. The control group received routine treatment and care. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, State Anxiety Inventory, Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-Embarrassment, and VAS-Fear when patients first arrived at the outpatient clinic (UT1), immediately after acupressure (UT2), and immediately after UT (UT3). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in anxiety, embarrassment, and procedural fear levels between patients in the study and control groups at UT1 (p > 0.05). Anxiety (p < 0.001), embarrassment (p < 0.001), and procedural fear (p < 0.001) levels at UT2, and anxiety (p < 0.001) and procedural fear (p = 0.027) levels at UT3 were significantly lower in the acupressure group compared to the control group. While anxiety (p < 0.001), embarrassment (p < 0.001), and procedural fear (p < 0.001) levels decreased significantly over time in the acupressure group, the control group showed a significant decrease only at UT3 compared to pre-UT levels. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that acupressure administered before UT positively affected patients' anxiety, embarrassment, and procedural fear levels. These findings indicate that acupressure is an effective and complementary method for enhancing patients' psychological comfort and reducing stress response during UT.