An interventional study of su jok therapy group and Placebo Group in Intensive Care Unit Patients, sponsored by Hasan Kalyoncu University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-08.
Sponsored by Hasan Kalyoncu University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of Su Jok Therapy, applied to patients receiving mechanical ventilation support in the intensive care unit, on pain and physiological parameters.
Mechanical ventilation (MV), one of the most common treatment methods in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), is a critical treatment approach to ensure adequate respiratory function in patients.
Although mechanical ventilation is a life-saving treatment method in ICUs, it can cause many physiological and psychological problems for patients. Furthermore, excessive exposure to physical, psychosocial, and environmental stressors can affect the patient's autonomic response and vital parameters (tachycardia, hypertension, tachypnea), leading to hemodynamic instability
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Integrated, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Practices as the provision of healthcare services that are not part of a country's own tradition or conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant healthcare system In intensive care patients, non-pharmacological methods such as aromatherapy, music therapy, massage, reflexology, acupressure, and Reiki are used as complementary and alternative treatments. Su Jok, one of these non-pharmacological methods, is an alternative treatment method based on traditional Korean medicine. Su Jok is a treatment method that uses the feet and hands, derived from the Korean words Su (hand) and Jok (foot). In the literature, it is argued that nurses can apply Su Jok therapy as an integrative method in symptom management due to its simplicity of application, lack of side effects, and non-invasiveness, which is similar to the philosophy of integrative nursing. Looking at the literature, very few studies on Su Jok therapy have been found. No studies have been found in the literature regarding the effect of Su Jok therapy on intensive care patients and patients on mechanical ventilation support.
2,219 studies on the registry are indexed under Pain; 917 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 30 is below the median of 70 across 1,904 interventional studies indexed under Pain.
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Patients who are in intensive care,
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients in the ward,
In the intervention group, su-jok seed therapy will be applied to the su-jok reflection zones on the hands.
Other: su jok therapy group
In the placebo group, su-jok seed therapy will be applied to areas on the hands that are different from the reflection zones.
Other: Placebo Group
No intervention will be applied to the control group.
In the intervention group, the reflex zones on the hands were identified with a probe. Buckwheat seeds were fixed to these areas with adhesive tape and massaged. The seeds remained in place for 4 hours. After 2 hours, these areas were stimulated with a 1-2 minute massage. Measurements were recorded on a data collection form. The application was carried out for 3 days.
In the placebo group, reflex zones on the hand were identified using a probe. Buckwheat seeds were fixed to a different area near these zones with a seed patch and massaged. The seeds remained in place for 4 hours. After 2 hours, these areas were stimulated with a 1-2 minute massage. Measurements were recorded on a data collection form. The application was carried out for 3 days.
Systolic Blood Pressure
Hemodynamic response measured by systolic blood pressure
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Heart Rate (Pulse Rate)
Heart rate measured in beats per minute
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
Peripheral oxygen saturation
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Body Temperature
Core body temperature
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Respiratory Rate
Number of breaths per minute
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS)
Negative scores indicate sedation, positive scores indicate agitation
Time frame: baseline, 1 hour, 4 hours after intervention
Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS)
Higher scores indicate more severe pain
Time frame: baseline, 1 hour, 4 hours after intervention
Hemodynamic Stability Index (Systolic/Diastolic Blood Pressure Change)
Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure from baseline to post-intervention measurements.
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Oxygenation Trend (SpO₂ Change Over Time)
hanges in peripheral oxygen saturation over the intervention period.
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Heart Rate Variability (Clinical Pulse Trend)
Changes in heart rate measured in beats per minute during and after intervention.
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Sedation-Agitation Level Stability (RASS Trend)
Changes in Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scores over time indicating sedation or agitation level.
Time frame: baseline, 1 hour, 4 hours after intervention
Pain Intensity Change (Behavioral Pain Scale Trend)
Changes in Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) scores indicating pain severity over time.
Time frame: baseline, 1 hour, 4 hours after intervention
Respiratory Stability (Respiratory Rate Change)
Changes in respiratory rate indicating respiratory stability during intervention.
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Temperature Stability
hanges in body temperature over time following intervention.
Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours after intervention
Non-pharmacological Intervention Effectiveness (Overall Clinical Stability Score)
Composite assessment of physiological stability based on vital signs and sedation/pain scores.
Time frame: baseline, 4 hours after intervention
Plan to share: No
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Hasan Kalyoncu University