Comparative analysis of warm needle moxibustion and gua sha nursing care on sleep quality and psychological stress in insomnia patients undergoing eszopiclone tablet treatment: A retrospective study

Abstract

This retrospective study aims to assess the adjunctive efficacy of warm needle moxibustion and gua sha care in the treatment of eszopiclone tablets on sleep quality and psychological stress in insomnia patients. Data of 138 insomnia patients from Gansu Baoshihua hospital between January and December 2022 were collected. Patients were bifurcated into 2 groups: those solely treated with eszopiclone (n = 71) and those administered a combined regimen of eszopiclone, warm needle moxibustion, and gua sha (n = 67). Sleep quality, psychological stress, and daytime drowsiness were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), respectively. Adverse effects were also monitored. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. Post-intervention, the intervention group exhibited significant reductions in PSQI and ESS scores (P < .05), whereas the control group showed no significant changes. The PSS-10 scores remained unchanged in both groups post-intervention. The intervention group reported a significant decrease in the prevalence of nausea and dizziness posttreatment (P < .05), with a notably lower post-intervention nausea prevalence compared to the control group (P < .05). Incorporating warm needle moxibustion and gua sha nursing care into the eszopiclone treatment regimen potentially amplify sleep quality while reducing side effects in patients with insomnia.