The Efficacy of Auricular Acupressure on Improving Constipation Among Residents in Community Rehabilitation Center

Due to the use of psychiatric medication and the impairment of cognition lead to poor lifestyle which is result in constipation among the residents of community rehabilitation center.In addition, the residents affected by psychosis and poor cognition are hard to pay attention and implement on the non-pharmacological interventions completely with complicated process.Therefore, contriving a simple intervention, which may improve constipation and constipation-related symptoms. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of applying auricular acupressure for relieving the constipation symptoms of residents of Schizophrenia in community rehabilitation center. A cross-over study design is used for this study. The eligible participants were random assign to experimental group I or experimental group II. Experimental group I received 8 weeks of auricular acupressure then 8 weeks of routine health care of constipation. Experimental group II received same interventions in reverse order (8 weeks of routine health care of constipation then 8 weeks of auricular acupressure).In both groups, any interventions were stopped for two month as residual effect wash-out period after 8 weeks intervention. Outcome measures include demographic variables, general health status and defecation condition. Subjective defecation condition is related to self-perceived constipation measured by the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms scale. Objective defecation condition includes frequency of defecation, the grade of Bristol Stool Scale and heart rate variability. Mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, t-test and chi-square test will be used to analyze the data. In addition, generalized estimating equations will be used to examine the effect of auricular acupressure on improving constipation. By identifying the effectiveness of auricular acupressure can reduce the occurrence of constipation; suitable care can be suggested to improve gastrointestinal health in residents of Schizophrenia in community rehabilitation center.