Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of hand acupuncture therapy on headaches in children.
Method: A quasi experimental pre-test and post (1,2,3)-test design was used. Data were collected from March 2 to April 16 2001. Forty children were assigned to an experimental (20) or control group (20). The experimental group received Hand-Acupuncture therapy on the meridian point; A30, A31, A32, A33, E8, I2, M2, M3, M5, B25, B26, B27 for each 3 minutes, while the control group rested on a bed. Data were analyzed using the SAS program with x^2-test, t-test, repeated measured ANOVA, and ANCOVA.
Result: In the experimental group, descriptive headache intensity (f=64.33, p=0.00), numeric headache intensity (F=74.69, 122.50, 7.52. p=0.00), and medication requirements (x^2=19.00, p=0.00) were significantly lower than those of the control group.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that hand acupuncture therapy is effective for reduction of headaches. Therefore, hand acupuncture therapy can be considered an independent nursing intervention for reducing headaches in children.
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