Year: 2025 | Month: January-March | Volume: 10 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 26-31
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20250103
The Utilisation of Su Jok Therapy in the Management of Postoperative Pain: A Systematic Review
Sevgi GÜR1, H. Banu KATRAN2
1Lecturer, PhD., Selçuk University, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Surgical Nursing, Konya, Türkiye.
2Asst. Prof., Marmara University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Department of Surgical Nursing, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Corresponding Author: Sevgi GÜR
ABSTRACT
According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), pain is defined as an unpleasant sensation in the body that may accompany existing or potential tissue damage and is influenced by an individual’s past experiences. Pain is classified as acute, chronic, or recurrent based on its duration. Acute pain occurs suddenly, is associated with tissue or organ damage, and decreases with recovery. The pain perception process consists of four stages: transduction, transmission, modulation, and interaction with individual and emotional factors. Pain has detrimental effects on the body, triggering a stress response that alters vital signs and impairs healing. Pain management after surgery involves both pharmacological (e.g., NSAIDs and opioids) and non-pharmacological methods. Non-pharmacological methods, such as acupressure, aromatherapy, hot-cold applications, and Su Jok therapy, are preferred due to fewer side effects and better patient involvement in managing pain. This study's objective was to undertake a systematic review of studies employing Su Jok therapy in the context of pain following surgical intervention. The study population comprised studies in which Su Jok therapy was utilised. The sample consisted of studies published between 2014 and 2024 using the following databases: Pubmed, Cochrane, Science Direct and Turkish Council of Higher Education National Thesis Centre. Boolean operators were employed to search for studies that included 'Su Jok', 'Su Jok therapy' and 'postoperative pain' in the title or abstract. The title, publication year, sample, research design, and study results were analysed within the scope of a systematic review. A total of seven English-language studies with Su Jok therapy in the title or abstract were identified. However, only three of these studies used Su Jok therapy in postoperative pain. The studies were of a randomised controlled design and examined nausea, vomiting, anxiety and quality of recovery in addition to postoperative pain. Su Jok therapy was found to be an effective method to reduce postoperative pain. Su Jok therapy is one of the non-pharmacological methods that have attracted attention in recent years. In the reviewed studies, it was determined that the use of Su Jok therapy had positive effects on postoperative pain.
Keywords: Surgical nursing, postoperative pain, Su Jok.