[To evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized protocol of auricular therapy using magnetic pearls on sleep promotion in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness of adopting a standardized protocol of auricular therapy using magnetic pearls on sleep promotion in the elderly.


METHODS
Sixty eligible participants were invited to receive a 3-week auricular therapy using magnetic pearls (@66 Gauss). Seven auricular points (Shenmen, Heart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen, Subcortex, Occiput) which are thought to have an effect on promoting sleep in the elderly were selected.


RESULTS
Significant improvement in the sleep efficiency (SE) collected by wrist actigraphy was observed before, during and after treatment course (P<0.01). The overall effective rate in insomnia with different TCM syndrome types ranged from 66.7% to 90.9% (average 81.7%). No significant difference in the effect of the therapy in terms of SE could be observe between clients with excessive or deficiency syndrome even when the treatment protocol was standardized (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A standardized protocol of auricular therapy using magnetic pearls for sleep improvement might be appropriate for the ageing population who are homogeneous in terms of age and general health status.
Suen
Kwai-ping Lorna
KP
Nethersole School of Nursing, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China. lornasuen@cuhk.edu.hk
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D020831:Acupuncture, Ear; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D012890:Sleep; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; D016896:Treatment Outcome