Effects of Acupressure on Pain, Fear, and Satisfaction in Intramuscular Injections
Pain Manag Nurs. 2026 Feb 17:S1524-9042(26)00017-2. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2026.01.015. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pain and anxiety related to intramuscular (IM) injections remain common problems in nursing practice. Nonpharmacological interventions such as acupressure have been increasingly recognized for their potential to alleviate procedure-related discomfort and enhance patient satisfaction.
AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acupressure therapy on pain, injection-related fear, and postinjection satisfaction among patients receiving IM injections.
METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 68 patients who presented to the emergency department for IM diclofenac sodium injection. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 34), who received acupressure therapy at the GB30 point before injection, or a control group (n = 34), who received standard care. Data were collected using the visual analog scale, the injection fear scale, and the postinjection satisfaction scale. Independent samples t tests were used to compare outcomes between groups.
RESULTS: The intervention group reported significantly lower mean visual analog scale pain scores (3.79 ± 2.25) than the control group (5.03 ± 2.35) and lower injection fear scale scores (43.74 ± 12.42 vs. 49.76 ± 8.67). Postinjection satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention group (40.74 ± 3.28) compared with the control group (38.85 ± 3.68).
CONCLUSIONS: Acupressure therapy effectively reduces pain and injection-related fear while increasing satisfaction during IM injections.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Acupressure is a simple, safe, and cost-effective nursing intervention that can be integrated into routine clinical practice to improve patient comfort, reduce injection-related anxiety, and enhance the overall quality of pain management during IM procedures.
TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT07063160-22/02/2025.
PMID:41708467 | DOI:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.01.015