Riassunto dello studio

Ninety-nine postoperative patients with lower limb fractures were randomized into three groups: the control group receiving routine postoperative care (n=33), the auricular acupressure group receiving routine care plus auricular acupressure (n=33), and the combined group receiving routine care, auricular acupressure, and EFT (n=33). The primary outcome of interest was pain reduction, measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included anxiety reduction, measured via the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and patient satisfaction with nursing care. Outcomes were assessed at various time points up to 72 hours post-intervention. Overall, the results revealed that the combined group had significantly lower VAS scores at 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours post-intervention (P < .05) and significantly lower SAS scores at 72 hours post-intervention (P < .05) compared to the other groups. Additionally, the combined group reported the highest satisfaction with nursing care (P < .05). These findings suggest that auricular acupressure combined with EFT is an effective approach for managing postoperative pain and anxiety in patients with lower limb fractures.