Efficacy of Wrist Acupressure Band on Sleep Quality in Medical Trainees

Official title

Efficacy of Wrist Acupressure Band on Sleep Quality in Medical Trainees: A Single-Blinded Cross-Over Randomized Clinical Trial

Overview

Background: Medical trainees frequently experience sleep disturbances, with shift work being a major contributing factor impacting their performance and overall wellbeing. Traditional treatments for sleep disorders often involve medications and hypnotics with potential side effects, highlighting the need for alternative strategies. Acupressure, particularly at the P6 (Neiguan) point, has shown promise in improving sleep and reducing anxiety. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of wristband acupressure applied to the P6 point in improving sleep quality, anxiety levels, and overall well-being among medical trainees. Methods: A single-blinded, cross-over randomized controlled trial was conducted at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), involving 10 medical trainees. Participants were randomized in blocks to either the intervention group, receiving wristband acupressure at the P6 point, or the control group, receiving acupressure at a sham point. Standardized, validated questionnaires were used to assess sleep quality (PSQI), anxiety (GAD-7), and well-being (WHO-5) before and after each intervention period. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, and participant confidentiality was maintained

Interventions

• Device Wrist band acupressure application to P6 point
  The intervention group received standardized instructions for applying the wristband to the P6 acupressure point on their wrist, with daily application scheduled from 8 pm to 8 am. Those who have night shifts will be asked to apply the wrist band for 12 hours after the end of their shift the intervention was applied for 30 days. At the end of the first phase the participants will be asked to avoid applying the wrist band for 7 days, to allow a washout period before crossing over.
• Device Wrist band acupressure application to sham point
  the control group will receive standardized instructions to apply the wristband to a sham point, with daily application from 8 pm to 8 am. Those who have night shifts will be asked to apply the wrist band for 12 hours after the end of their shift. This will occur for 30 days. At the end of the first phase the participants will be asked to avoid applying the wrist band for 7 days, to allow a washout period before crossing over.

Primary outcome measures

• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [Time frame: 1 month]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [Time frame: 1 month]
• World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) [Time frame: 1 month]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

Residents, Fellows and Med-4 students at AUB.

Exclusion criteria

• Being enrolled in another sleep study
• Currently on Sleep Medications: Benzodiazepines, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, magnesium supplements, herbal supplements that help with sleep including Chamomile, Ashwaghanda and Melatonin
• Daily alcohol consumers

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Crossover

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Device feasibility

Study locations

Lebanon · 1 center

• American university of Beirut — Beirut

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06978855 · SBS-2024-0323

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗