The effects of auricular acupressure on the sleep of the elderly using polysomnography, actigraphy and blood test: Randomized, single-blind, sham control

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on sleep in elderly people with sleep disorders. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. The participants aged over 65 years old were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 21) and the sham control group (n = 21). The participants in the experimental group and the sham control group received auricular acupressure on sleep-disorder-related points or to sleep-disorder-unrelated points, respectively. The intervention was implemented for a total of eight weeks. To validate the effects of the treatment, polysomnography with the Alice portable sleep diagnostic system; actigraphy with Fitbit Alta; and melatonin, serotonin, and cortisol blood tests were conducted. Results: Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 duration change (Z = −2.187, p = .029) and Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 ratio change (Z = −2.423, p = .014), measured by polysomnography, of the experimental group showed a significant increase over time compared to the sham control group. Conclusions: Auricular acupressure applied for eight weeks was found to be effective in increasing Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 duration and Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 ratio among sleep stages of the elderly. Consequently, it showed that auricular acupressure can be used as a proven nursing intervention method for sleep disorder in elders to increase deep sleep duration and ratio.