Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on sleep quality and negative emotion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing interventional therapy. Methods A total of 62 patients undergoing interventional therapy for liver cancer in a Grade-III hospital in Shanghai from January 2021 to December 2021 were selected by convenience sampling method, and were divided into test group and control group according to complete randomization, with 31 cases in each group. The experimental group was treated with press-needle therapy combined with health education, and the control group was treated with placebo treatment (no needle body) combined with health education. The intervention lasted for 2 days and was changed every day. The sleep conditions and positive and negative emotional scores of the two groups were compared. Results The general data of patients were compared, the difference is not statistically significant (P>0.05). The total score of sleep questionnaire in St. Mary's Hospital after intervention in test group was higher than control group, the difference is statistically significant (P<0.05), which was significant. The time of sleeping time wsa compared between the two groups, the difference is not statistically significant (P>0.05); the actual sleep time of test group was longer than that of control group, and the difference is statistically significant (P<0.05). There was significant difference in negative emotion between experimental group and control group (P=0.001). There were significant differences among fear (P=0.031), restlessness (P<0.001), upset (P=0.001) and tension (P<0.001). Conclusion The operation of acupuncture is simple and convenient, has almost no harm to patients, and can relieve sleep disorders and negative emotions in patients with clinical liver cancer.

Key words: acupuncture, liver neoplasm, shenmen point, sleep quality, negative emotion