The effectiveness of acupressure therapy on anxiety: a scoping review protocol

Authors

  • Stephanie Y. Wang Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Zac Morse Department of Oral Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3259.ijct20221873

Keywords:

Acupuncture, Acupoint, Anxiety disorders, Auricular acupressure, Pressure points, Psychophysiological disorders

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and are considered the most common psychiatric condition globally. Acupressure is a non-invasive alternative to acupuncture and has demonstrated effectiveness in managing psychosomatic disorders. However, due to high disparities within existing clinical research, it is difficult to recommend the optimum acupressure practice for anxiety management. This manuscript details the protocol for scoping the available evidence, mapping key concepts, and identifying gaps for future research.

Methods: This protocol is designed following the preferred reporting items for systemic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs institute (JBI) manual for evidence synthesis guidelines. Six electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFO, dentistry and oral science source, and Scopus) and two other search engines (Google and Google Scholar) will be searched for all relevant primary and secondary studies, grey literature, and other sources concerning the type of acupressure interventions and the effectiveness of acupressure on anxiety. The sources retrieved will be independently assessed by two reviewers utilising the eligibility criteria defined by the population concept and context (PCC) framework. A PRISMA-ScR flowchart will be applied to track the number of identified, included, and excluded sources. Extracted data and variables will be presented in a data extraction table. Narrative explanations will accompany the synthesised results.

Conclusions: The review’s findings can assist in identifying priorities for future research and provide recommendations for optimal protocols for clinical implementation.

Author Biographies

Stephanie Y. Wang, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

Department of Oral Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology

Zac Morse, Department of Oral Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

Professor of Oral Health, Auckland University of Technology

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Published

2022-07-26