eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Nursing Research 2378-5586 2020-02-01 8 2 182 191 10.12691/ajnr-8-2-7 AJNR2020827 article Rasha Hassan Abass Shady 1 Asmaa Ibrahem Abo Seada 2 Marwa Fathalla Mostafa dr_marrwa@hotmail.com 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt Critical Care and Emergency Nursing Department, Mansoura University, Egypt Acupressure is a helpful and powerful non-pharmacologic intervention used to reduce pain and anxiety through stimulation of the blood circulation, secretion of neurotransmitters and providing comfort for patients post open thoracotomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acupressure in reduction of pain and anxiety among patients with open thoracotomy. Design: pre and post test quasi-experimental design. Setting: Cardio-thoracic intensive care unit (ICU) and cardio-thoracic department of Mansoura University Hospital. Sample: A purposive sample of 136 patients, 68 in the experimental group and 68 in the control group based on criteria for inclusion and exclusion. Data were collected using the interviewing questionnaire sheet, post thoracotomy anxiety assessment scale, post thoracotomy pain assessment scale and acupressure practice observational checklist. Results: There were statistical significant differences between the control groups and the acupressure group regarding the level of pain and anxiety. Conclusion: Acupressure is an effective technique for reducing the level of pain and anxiety among patients with open thoracotomy. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajnr/8/2/7/ajnr-8-2-7.pdf acupressure anxiety pain open thoracotomy