Effects of ear acupressure in improving visual health in children.
Myopia is a major health problem, not only because of its high prevalence in Asia but also because it contributes to visual morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ear acupressure for visual improvement on school children in Taiwan. Participants were fifth-grade school children with visual acuity between 6/37.5 and 6/9.6 in one eye. The experimental group (n = 35) received a 15-week ear acupressure intervention with seed embedding; the control group (n = 35) did not. Data for demographic factors, visual acuity, refractive error, and behavior toward visual health were collected before and after the intervention. The significant differences were observed between the two groups in visual acuity (p = 0.02), refractive error (p = 0.04), and behaviors toward visual health (p = 0.045). Performing ear acupressure may facilitate improved visual health for children. However, it requires more extended studies exploring its effects on elementary students in different grades. Longitudinal effects of this intervention also require further study.
Chen
Ching-Hsiu
CH
Department of Nursing, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Chen
Hsing-Hsia
HH
Yeh
Mei-Ling
ML
Tsay
Shiow-Luan
SL
D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D002648:Child; D004423:Ear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000628:therapy; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*