Before starting the acupressure/placebo acupressure point application, the area around the area where pressure will be applied for 20-30 seconds will be gently rubbed with the palm of the hand. By gently rubbing the surrounding tissue, tension and tissue sensitivity will be reduced and the tissue will be relaxed by heating, relaxing and preparing the point area. Pressure will be applied to the determined points (LI4, LI11 and HT7 or points 1.5 cm away) with the thumb, index or middle finger manually for 5 seconds to create a depth of 1-1.5 cm, and rest for 2 seconds. Each point will be applied for 2 minutes and the application will last 12 minutes.~When acupressure/plesebo acupressure application is completed, the chest tube will be removed by the physician. Procedural pain level, anxiety level and hemodynamic variables of all patients in the acupressure and placebo acupressure groups will be re-evaluated immediately and 15 minutes after removal of the chest tube.
When the literature was reviewed, many studies were found in which various non-pharmacologic interventions such as reflexology, music therapy, slow and deep breathing exercises, relaxation exercises and cold application were examined in the control of pain associated with chest tube removal. However, a limited number of studies have examined the effect of acupressure on the control of pain caused by chest tube removal; there are no studies in which LI4, LI11 and HT7 acupressure points were used and anxiety level and hemodynamic variables were examined along with procedural pain. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acupressure on procedural pain, anxiety and hemodynamic variables after chest tube removal after open heart surgery.