title: Ear acupressure for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of ear acupressure (EAP) as a stand-alone intervention for smoking cessation and the feasibility of this study design. Adult smokers were randomised to receive EAP specific for smoking cessation (SSEAP) or a nonspecific EAP (NSEAP) intervention which is not typically used for smoking cessation. Participants received 8 weekly treatments and were requested to press the five pellets taped to one ear at least three times daily. Participants were followed up for three months. Primary outcome measures were a 7-day point-prevalence cessation rate confirmed by exhaled carbon monoxide and relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms (NWS). Intention-to-treat analysis was applied. Forty-three adult smokers were randomly assigned to SSEAP (n = 20) or NSEAP (n = 23) groups. The dropout rate was high with 19 participants completing the treatments and 12 remaining at followup. One participant from the SSEAP group had confirmed cessation at week 8 and end of followup (5%), but there was no difference between groups for confirmed cessation or NWS. Adverse events were few and minor.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Traditional & Complementary Medicine Research Program, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine, Health Innovations Research Institute, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuan Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Di
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Worsnop
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Cliff
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Da Costa
authors.forename: Charlie C L
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Xue