Effectiveness of Ear Acupoint Pressure Bean Care in Reducing Postoperative Pain After Debridement and Suturing Procedure

Background: Postoperative pain is a common and distressing symptom after debridement and suturing procedures. Non-pharmacological nursing interventions have gradually gained attention in postoperative pain management. In China, due to trauma-related injuries caused by traffic accidents, work-related injuries, and accidental trauma, the number of such injuries has been increasing year by year, resulting in a large number of patients requiring debridement and suturing procedures in emergency departments. Postoperative pain is closely related to the patient's recovery, wound healing, and overall physical and mental health. Severe pain can affect sleep quality, delay functional recovery, increase discomfort, and have a negative impact on the patient's postoperative quality of life. Moreover, due to tissue damage, inflammatory response, anesthetic effects, and psychological stress, the intensity of pain may vary at different times after the operation.

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Ear Acupoint Pressure Bean Care (EAPBC) in reducing postoperative pain among patients undergoing debridement and suturing procedures. Specifically, the study compared pain levels between patients receiving routine nursing care alone and those receiving routine nursing care together with Ear Acupoint Pressure Bean Care (EAPBC).

Methodology: The study utilized a quasi-experimental research design involving a control group and an experimental group. Pain scores were assessed using the Changhai Pain Scale preoperative, at 1 hour after surgery, and at 6 hours after surgery to observe changes in pain intensity during the recovery period. The study also explored whether pain reduction patterns differed across selected demographic characteristics.

Result: The result shows that the level of postoperative pain declined for both groups over time. At 1 hour after surgery, both groups were experiencing moderate pain, but the experimental group had lower pain. At 6 hours after surgery, both groups experienced mild pain, but the experimental group experienced more pain reduction. In terms of Differences in Pain Levels Across Time Between the Control and Experimental Groups ? Pairwise comparisons showed no significant difference between groups before surgery, but significant differences were found at 1 hour and 6 hours after surgery.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, Ear Acupoint Pressure Bean Care (EAPBC) was effective in reducing postoperative pain after debridement and suturing procedures. Patients who received EAPBC together with routine nursing care experienced better postoperative pain relief compared with those who received routine nursing care alone. It may serve as a safe, simple, non-invasive, and complementary nursing intervention for postoperative pain management after debridement and suturing procedures.