Effectiveness of acupressure on postoperative gastrointestinal function among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer: a mixed-method study = 穴位按摩对结直肠癌手术后肠功能恢恢研究 ; 穴位按摩对结直肠癌手术后肠功能恢恢研究 ; Effectiveness of acupressure on postoperative gastrointestinal function among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer: a mixed-method study = Xue wei an mo dui jie zhi chang ai shou shu hou chang gong neng hui hui yan jiu ; xue wei an mo dui jie zhi chang ai shou shu hou chang gong neng hui hui yan jiu

Ph.D. ; Background ; Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide in 2018. After surgery treatments, gastrointestinal function is impaired among patients with CRC. Acupressure is a promising technique that utilises force to stimulate acupoints for improving gastrointestinal function. ; Aims ; This study mainly aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure and determine its potential clinical application to improve postoperative gastrointestinal function among patients undergoing CRC surgeries. ; Methods ; This study comprised three phases. Phase I was a systematic review to examine the effects of acupressure on the postoperative gastrointestinal function of patients undergoing abdominal surgeries from literature. The results of the systematic review were used to guide the development of an evidence-based protocol. Phase II was a small-scale pilot study that involved a randomised controlled trial (RCT, n=13) and a qualitative study (n=4) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the protocol for a full-scale study. Phase III was the main study that adopted a RCT (n=112) and qualitative interviews of patients (n=12) and nurses (n=11). Adult patients (≥ 18 years old) who were scheduled to undergo CRC surgeries were recruited and randomised to receive acupressure or sham acupressure at the acupoint Stomach 36 (ST36, 足三裡) for five days after the operation. Primary outcomes included time of first passage of flatus and defecation and secondary outcomes included postoperative nausea and vomiting, bowel motility, abdominal distension and pain. The first passage of flatus and defecation were analysed using student t-test and regression analysis. Generalised estimating equation (GEE) models were used to compare the effects of acupressure on gastrointestinal symptoms at different time points. ; Results ; In Phase I, the systematic review included nine studies and 1,191 participants. The meta-analysis results showed that acupressure significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea ...