Aromatherapy Versus Acupressure: Impact on Postoperative Pain and Sleep Quality in Pediatric Abdominal Surgery Patients

NCT07157501 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: CAT for pain and sleep pattern
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study's aim is to examine the effect of using aromatherapy versus acupressure on pain intensity and sleep pattern for children undergoing abdominal surgeries.

Conditions

Appendicitis; Hernia; Abdominal Exploration; Splenectomy

Keywords

Children; Pain; Sleep pattern; Aromatherapy; Accupressure; Abdominal surgeries

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in pain intensity as measured by the Word-Graphic Rating Scale (WGRS)

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Word-Graphic Rating Scale (WGRS), a validated self-report scale for children aged 6-12 years. The scale includes descriptive words along a line, ranging from "No pain" to "Worst possible pain." Children point to the word that best describes their pain level. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity. The change from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed. Unit of Measure: Score on a 0-10 scale

  Baseline (pre-intervention), and 30 minutes post-intervention

• Change in sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

  Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: It is a self-report questionnaire that assessed sleep quality and sleep pattern. The scale consists of components such as subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, day time dysfunction. This rating scale consists of 30 items based on the 5 components. The scale will be used for the pre and post-test. Scoring of answer is based on 4-point rating scale (0 -3). Never - 0, Occasionally - 1, Frequently - 2, Always - 3. Scoring system : Good quality of sleep 0-30. Fair quality of sleep 31-60. Poor quality of sleep61-90

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and at the morning of 2nd postoperative day and at the morning of 3rd postoperative day

Study Arms (2)

Using aromatherapy for pain and sleep disturbance

EXPERIMENTAL

participants in this group received aromatherapy only for decreasing pain intensity and improving sleep quality for children after abdominal surgeries

Other: Aromatherapy inhaler

Acupressure for pain and sleep disturbances for children after abdominal surgery

EXPERIMENTAL

participants in this group received acupressure for decreasing pain and improving sleep quality after abdominal surgery

Behavioral: Accupressure

Interventions

Accupressure BEHAVIORAL

Acupressure will be applied by pressing in circular movements on the acupoint with the thumb finger first in clock wise and then anti-clock wise direction. The finger must remain at the same point on the skin and be moved in small circles

Acupressure for pain and sleep disturbances for children after abdominal surgery

Aromatherapy inhaler OTHER

The lavender inhalation application will be explained to the children and their mothers. Two drops of 100% pure organic lavender oil will poured on a cotton. The cotton will have fixed by the child at 5 cm distance from his or her nose and will asked to breathe slowly for 10-15 minutes

Using aromatherapy for pain and sleep disturbance

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children age 6 to 12 years of both sexes. Conscious and having a caretaker. No history of respiratory diseases or has problems with his sense of smell (for aromatherapy group).
• Children undergoing abdominal surgeries such as acute appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, Inguinal and umbilical hernia

You may not qualify if:

• Post-operative severe pain preventing children from participating in the study. Children who have chronic disease such as cardiac and renal disease. The existence of coagulation disorders, as well as skin diseases or skin burns in the pressure points where in acupressure could be applied (for acupressure group).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mansoura University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of nursing - Mansoura university

Al Mansurah, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Appendicitis; Hernia; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Intraabdominal Infections; Infections; Gastroenteritis; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Cecal Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Asmaa S.A. El Malah, PhD

  Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 23, 2025
• First Posted: September 5, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2024
• Study Completion: November 30, 2024
• Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

EG (1)