Auricular acupressure for insomnia in hemodialysis patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) frequently complain of insomnia. Poor sleep quality impairs their quality of life and adversely affects long-term outcome. Previously we applied auricular acupressure therapy (AAT) for MHD patients with insomnia and yielded favorable results. AAT probably improves sleep quality by stimulating the vagus nerve and inhibiting sympathetic overactivity. However, the efficacy of AAT for insomnia in this population is still lacking. The proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate the efficacy and safety of AAT for improvement of sleep quality in MHD patients with insomnia.

Methods/design

The proposed study is a multi-center, double-blind (participants and assessors), parallel-group RCT. A total of 112 participants w

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5842538 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature