Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupoint Massage and Acupoint Application on Defecation Status and Quality of Life in Patients with Constipation and Psychogenic Drug-Induced Heat.

BACKGROUND

Constipation is a prevalent adverse drug reaction during the treatment of mental illnesses. Traditional Chinese medicine boasts substantial expertise in addressing constipation.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of traditional Chinese medicine acupoint massage combined with acupoint application on the quality of life of patients experiencing solid heat constipation induced by psychogenic drugs.

DESIGN

This study employed a randomized controlled design.

SETTING

This study was conducted at the Seventh People's Hospital of Hangzhou.

PARTICIPANTS

Between May 2019 and August 2020, 150 hospitalized patients from the Department of Psychiatry at the Seventh People's Hospital of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, were selected through convenience sampling. The clinical diagnosis type was intestinal solid fever. The patients were divided into three groups using a random number table method: observation group, intervention group 1, and intervention group 2, each consisting of 50 cases.

INTERVENTIONS: The observation group underwent acupoint massage combined with application treatment. Intervention group 1 received an acupoint massage. Intervention group 2 underwent Shenque acupoint application treatment.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Defecation characteristics; (2) Defecation difficulty scores; and (3) Quality of life of patients.

RESULTS

The observation group exhibited superior improvement in Bristol constipation stool character and defecation difficulty compared to intervention group 1 and intervention group 2 (P < .05 and P < .01). In the quality-of-life assessment scale, the observation group outperformed intervention group 1 and intervention group 2 in physical, psychological, worry, and satisfaction aspects (P < .05 and P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Traditional Chinese medicine acupoint massage combined with acupoint application demonstrates significant effects on constipation characteristics, defecation difficulties, and the overall quality of life of patients. These findings merit consideration for clinical application.