The Effect of Tele-acupressure Self-practice for Mental Health and well-being in the Community During COVID-19
Background: Preliminary studies support the clinical effect of acupressure in managing neuropsychiatric diseases. However, procedures for the selection of intervention and Tele-acupressure self-practice implementation techniques are lacking. This lack of information hinders further studies on the effect of Tele-acupressure self-practice and its subsequent clinical uses. Objective: The aims of this study was to assess the effect of Tele-acupressure self-practice on the improvement of mental health, as well as depression, anxiety and well-being during COVID-19 in Malaysia. Methods: The goal of this work is to manage for Tele-acupressure self-practice for the mental health during COVID-19. The participants (N=80) were enrolled in this study, all participants current stay at one of same community. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups: 40 participants were involved in the Tele-acupressure self-practice group, 40 participants were involved in the Non-acupressure group. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Personal well-being was using the four Office for National Statistics personal well-being questions (ONS-4) were used to assess measurement. Data were collected at baseline and after four weeks of treatment. Results: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (6.29±1.65), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (7.20±0.65), Anxiety score in well-being ONS-4 (3.34±0.38) were significantly lower; the Happiness score in well-being ONS-4 (8.82±0.86) was significantly higher in the Tele-acupressure self-practice group make a comparison between the Non-acupressure group in the after four week’s assessments. The two groups were not statistically different regarding Satisfaction with life and Worthwhile in the well-being ONS-4 questionnaires. Conclusions: Tele-acupressure self-practice had an effect than Non-acupressure in participants during COVID-19 pandemic. But, Satisfaction with life and Worthwhile in the well-being was make better in both of the groups, which approved the participants become more relaxed. Tele-acupressure self-practice being used for the COVID-19 pandemic period are facilitating the development of Malaysian public mental health intervention.