<![CDATA[Gout arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals resulting from hyperuricemia. It is characterized by joint pain, swelling, redness, stiffness, and limited mobility, which may reduce patients' quality of life. In addition to pharmacological treatment, acupressure is a complementary non-pharmacological therapy that may help relieve pain through stimulation of specific acupressure points. This case study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure therapy as a complementary nursing intervention in reducing pain among patients with gout arthritis within the context of family nursing care. This case study involved one family with a member diagnosed with gout arthritis. Acupressure therapy was administered over three sessions by stimulating the SP6 (Sanyinjiao), LV3 (Taichong), LI4 (Hegu), KI1 (Yongquan), and KI3 (Taixi) points. Data were collected through interviews, direct observation, physical assessment, pain measurement using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and serum uric acid measurements. Family caregiving ability and independence in performing acupressure were assessed through direct observation. Data were analyzed descriptively by comparing changes across the three sessions. Pain intensity decreased from 5 (moderate pain) to 2 (mild pain), while serum uric acid levels decreased from 6.8 mg/dL to 3.5 mg/dL. Improvements were also observed in joint swelling, stiffness, mobility, comfort, treatment adherence, and family independence in performing acupressure and providing home-based care. Acupressure therapy may serve as a beneficial complementary nursing intervention for reducing pain, improving physical condition, and enhancing family independence in caring for patients with gout arthritis.]]>
