Virtual Booth

TEACHING & LEARNING HOLISTIC CARE: ACUPRESSURE POINTS FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS (APES)

Zalina binti Ibrahim

Faculty of Business & Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

Cawangan Sarawak, Malaysia

[email protected]

Frannelya Ak Francis

Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

Cawangan Sarawak, Malaysia

[email protected]

Squiter Macroy Ak Wilsom Mukan

Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

Cawangan Sarawak, Malaysia

[email protected]

Nur Batrisyia Binti Saiful Bahari

[email protected]

ABSTRACT   

What would you do if your loved one suddenly fainted, experienced nausea, developed severe back pain, suffered a headache, or had a sudden rise in blood pressure? Health emergencies can occur anytime and anywhere, yet many people are uncertain about how to respond before professional medical assistance arrives. This lack of immediate knowledge may delay appropriate support and potentially worsen outcomes. To address this gap, a Teaching and Learning (T&L) collaborative initiative introduced Acupressure Points for Emergency Situations (APES) to enhance the holistic care competencies of diploma nursing students at a higher learning institution in Sarawak. APES presents the principles and practical applications of acupressure through a simple, systematic, and user-friendly approach that can be easily understood by learners of different backgrounds. The programme combines visual guidance with hands-on techniques, making it suitable for both a self-learning resource and a structured training module. Nursing students who participated in the programme reported that the techniques were beneficial in managing personal wellness and providing supportive care during workplace and emergency situations. Although initially developed for nursing education, APES has broad community applications. It is suitable for healthcare professionals, nurses, first aiders, caregivers, educators, students, community volunteers, and members of the public interested in complementary holistic care. The APES teaching and learning techniques have been copyrighted to reflect their originality and educational value. APES has significant potential for widespread adoption. By empowering individuals with practical acupressure skills, APES promotes health awareness, strengthens emergency preparedness, supports holistic well-being, and serves as a trusted companion.

Keywords: acupressure points, holistic care, health emergency, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), health awareness