Effects of Acupressure on Fatigue and Depression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

This study was to examine the effects of acupressure on fatigue and depression in HCC patients undergoing TACE. A quasiexperimental study design was used. Patients were evaluated at five time points: before treatment (T1) and 2, 3, 4, and 5 days after treating TACE (T2, T3, T4, and T5). Fatigue and depression were assessed by a VAS fatigue scale and a VAS depression scale at each time point. TFRS and BDI were administered at T1 and T5. Patients' fatigue and depression were significantly higher at T5 than at T1 in two groups. Fatigue and depression increased in both the experimental and control groups' patients over the five days of hospitalization during which TACE and chemotherapy were administered. The experimental group had significantly less fatigue than the control group, with lower subscale scores on physical, psychosocial, daily, and overall fatigue. There were no differences between the groups on depression. At posttest, the experimental group experienced lower physical, psychosocial, daily, and overall fatigue than the control group. Acupressure can improve fatigue in HCC patients during treatment with TACE but did not alleviate depression. Discharge planning should include home care for management of fatigue and depression.

Self-Acupressure for Multiple Sclerosis-Related Depression and Fatigue: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

“…However, Lan et al (2015) showed that acupressure did not affect reducing depression in patients with HCC (14). One of the reasons for the difference between the results of the mentioned studies and the results of the present study could be related to the difference between the acupoints used.…”

“…Furthermore, there are several studies with conflicting results. For example, Lan et al (2015) showed that acupressure did not significantly reduce depression among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (14). Also, the effects of acupressure on fatigue are not consistent.…”

“…Also, the effects of acupressure on fatigue are not consistent. Lan et al (2015) and reported the positive effects of acupressure on reducing fatigue in patients with HCC and women with MS, respectively (14, 15). However, the results of a study by Kluger et al (2016) showed that acupuncture intervention did not affect reducing fatigue in Parkinson's patients (16).…”

Palliative care in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…Severe complications such hepatic artery complications (7.2%), new ascites (6.1%), hepatic failure (1.0%), hepatic abscess (0.9%), and acute renal impairment (0.6%) can also occur but are uncommon 46–48 . TACE may also provoke psychological symptoms including fatigue and depression, which can result in early discontinuation of therapy 49 . During this stage, palliative care may assist in managing treatment adverse effects.…”

Acupressure Therapy as Alternative Treatment on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Cancer Patients

“…It helps in increasing physical performance by pressing molecules that trigger fatigue in the blood (Jou & Ma, 2009). Acupressure in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the results showed that fatigue in the acupressure group were lower than in the control group (Lan, Lin, Chen, Lin, & Wang, 2015). Acupressure which is selfmanaged for 6 weeks causes a significant reduction in depression and fatigue in patients with breast cancer (Mehling, et al, 2012).…”