Background: Tobacco smoking is still a worldwide health risk. Current pharmacotherapies have at best, a success rate of no more than 50%. Auricular (ear) acupressure has been purported to be beneficial in achieving smoking cessation in some studies, while in others has been deemed insignificant. We hereby describe the protocol for a three-arm randomised controlled trial to examine the possible benefits of self-administered acupressure for smoking cessation.
Methods: Sixty consenting participants with confirmed habit of tobacco smoking will be recruited and randomized into three arms to receive either auricular acupressure at five true acupoints (NADA protocol), auricular acupressure at five sham points, or no auricular acupressure at all. Participants having auricular acupressure will exert firm pressure to each acupoint bilaterally via the bead in the attached plasters whenever they feel the urge to smoke. The treatment phase will last for six weeks during which all participants will be assessed weekly to review their smoking log, state of abstinence, end-exhalation carbon monoxide levels and possible adverse effects including withdrawal reactions and stress levels. At any time, a successful quit date will be defined with continuous abstinence for the following consecutive 7 days. From then on, participants will be evaluated individually for continuous abstinence rate (CAR), end-exhalation carbon monoxide levels and adverse effects of stress and withdrawal at specified intervals up to 26 weeks. Expectancy of treatment will be assessed with a four-item Borkovec and Nau self-assessment credibility scale during and after intervention.
Discussion: We incorporate validated outcome measures of smoking cessation into our randomised controlled trial design with the objectives to evaluate the feasibility and possible benefits of self-administered auricular acupressure as a non-invasive alternative to pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01389622 (registered Jul 7 2011).
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328240 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-11 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Background: The increasing interest in acupuncture for promoting postoperative rehabilitation has encouraged its use in rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but its effectiveness remains controversial.
Objective: This study aims to assess the efficacy of different models of acupuncture-related therapies on pain relief, motor function, inflammation, and overall rehabilitation of the knee after TKA.
Methods: Databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and Clinicaltrials.
Auricular Acupressure Versus an Intermittent Low-Carbohydrate Diet in Children With Overweight or Obesity With Gastric-Heat and Dampness-Obstruction Syndrome: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.
JMIR Res Protoc
March 2025
Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China.
Background: Childhood obesity frequently persists into adulthood and is associated with an increased risk and earlier onset of cardiovascular disease in later life. Behavioral change strategies have been proposed as the first-line weight management approach for children and adolescents with obesity. Nonpharmacological interventions, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) auricular acupressure treatment and intermittent low-carbohydrate diet (ILCD), are increasingly being investigated in the young obese population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEfficacy and Safety of Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Network Meta-Analysis.
J Pain Res
February 2025
College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
Background: This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to explore the impact of Non-pharmacological therapies (NPT) on alleviating primary dysmenorrhea (PD) symptoms and assess the effectiveness differences among various NPT.
Methods: We searched seven databases and summarized clinical trials of PD treated with NPT from inception to September 6, 2023. Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of PD treated with NPT.
Effect of Auricular Point Acupressure Therapy on Noise-Induced Tinnitus: A Retrospective Analysis.
Noise Health
March 2025
Department of Otolaryngology, The Sandun Branch of Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310030, Zhejiang, China.
Objective: This retrospective analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of auricular point acupressure therapy as an adjunct to conventional treatment for noise-induced tinnitus.
Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with noise-induced tinnitus admitted to the Sandun branch of Zhejiang Hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 and included 100 patients for analysis. Based on the different treatments, the patients were divided into a conventional therapy group (methylcobalamin tablets for 4 weeks, n = 52) and an auricular point acupressure therapy group (methylcobalamin tablets and auricular point acupressure therapy for 4 weeks, n = 48).
Nursing Support for Constipation in Palliative Care Units in Japan: A Multisite Cross-Sectional Study.
Palliat Med Rep
January 2025
Department of Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.
Purpose: This study investigated the frequency with which nursing support for constipation is provided for patients with cancer during the prognostic months and weeks.
Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted anonymously among registered nurses in palliative care units across Japan. The frequencies of providing six types of nursing support (abdominal massage with essential oils, abdominal acupressure, auricular acupressure, self-management education, abdominal massage, and warm compresses) were surveyed.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!