[Auricular point sticking combined with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for smoking cessation：a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy between auricular point sticking combined with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) and nicotine patch for smoking cessation.

Methods: Two hundred patients who voluntarily quit smoking were randomly divided into a combination group and a nicotine patch group, 100 cases in each group. In the combination group, auricular point sticking (Shenmen [TF], Neifenmi [CO], Pizhixia [AT], Jiaogan [AH], etc., once every other day) combined with TEAS（Lieque [LU 7] and Zusanli [ST 36], with continuous wave, 20 Hz in frequency, 1 mA in current intensity, 30 min each time, once a day) were applied. In the nicotine patch group, nicotine patch was applied. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The immediate withdrawal rate and persistent withdrawal rate 8 weeks into treatment and in follow-up of 16 weeks after treatment in the two groups were compared; before treatment, 8 weeks into treatment and in follow-up of 16 weeks after treatment, the degree of nicotine dependence was evaluated by using Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND); 1 week into treatment, 8 weeks into treatment and in follow-up of 16 weeks after treatment, the withdrawal symptoms and smoking craving were evaluated by using Minnesota nicotine withdrawal scale (MNWS); the safety and compliance (dropped off rate and treatment completeness) were evaluated in the two groups.

Results: There was no statistical significance of the differences in the immediate withdrawal rate and persistent withdrawal rate 8 weeks into treatment and during follow-up between the two groups (>0.05). The FTND scores were decreased 8 weeks into treatment and during follow-up in the two groups compared with those before treatment (<0.01); the FTND score during follow-up in the combination group was lower than the nicotine patch group (<0.05). The MNWS scores were decreased 8 weeks into treatment and during follow-up in the two groups compared with those 1 week into treatment (<0.05); the changes of MNWS scores 8 weeks into treatment and during follow-up in the combination group were greater than the nicotine patch group (<0.05, <0.01). There were no serious adverse reactions in either group. Eight weeks into treatment and during follow-up, the dropped off rates were all 16.0% (16/100) in the combination group, which were 20.0% (20/100) and 23.0% (23/100) in the nicotine patch group, there was no statistical significance of the differences in the two groups (>0.05). There was no significant difference in treatment completeness between the two groups (>0.05).

Conclusion: Auricular point sticking combined with TEAS could effective decrease the degree of nicotine dependence, improve withdrawal symptoms in smokers, its effect is superior to nicotine patch.