Acupressure's Impact on Pain and Physiological Parameters in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization

The literature found that acupressure positively affects child health, but no study was found to determine the effect of acupressure on pain and physiological parameters in children undergoing cardiac catheterization. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the effect of acupressure applied before and after cardiac catheterization on infants' pain levels and physiological parameters.

In health sciences, placebo refers to an inactive intervention used to relax the patient and assess treatment efficacy. It may involve inert substances (e.g., sugar tablets, saline) or non-therapeutic interventions (e.g., artificial electrical stimulation or conversations). Expectancy theory often explains The placebo effect, which suggests that treatment expectations can induce physiological changes. Factors like age, cognitive development, and previous pain experiences influence children's responses to placebo. Parental belief in an intervention's efficacy can reduce a child's pain expectations and positively influence their perception of pain. Although the sample included young children, our study incorporated the placebo group to account for this effect, especially since the parents evaluated pain scores.