Auricular point acupressure for chronic pain: a feasibility study of a 4-week treatment protocol.
This 1-group, 4-week observational study aimed to (1) assess the feasibility of recruiting, retention, and completion of a 4-week auricular point acupressure (APA) treatment protocol for chronic pain in adult patients and (2) assess the effects of APA in pain reduction (pain severity and pain interference) among these patients. The participants received a 4-week APA treatment protocol in weekly cycles. Each weekly cycle included 5 days with APA seeds taped onto the ear and 2 days without. Each participant was called every day to monitor adherence to the treatment protocol (the actual times the participant pressed the seeds each day and the duration of applied pressure), to answer analgesic use, and to answer the pain intensity questionnaire. Thirty participants were initially enrolled in this study, but 5 did not continue. The retention rate was 83% (n = 25). Approximately 60% of the participants (n = 15) adhered to the 4-week APA and completed all data assessments. At baseline assessment, only 40% of all participants (n = 12 of 30) were confident that APA would reduce and eliminate pain; nonetheless, all participants reported fewer episodes of pain occurrences and pain intensity with the APA treatment. For the participants who completed the 4-week APA protocol (n = 15), 96% (n = 14) decreased analgesic medication intake and 88% (n = 13) felt "much better" after the APA treatment. Participants reported an average reduction of 63% in the worst pain intensity at day 7. By the end of the 4-week APA protocol, an even greater reduction in pain intensity was reported (66%, n = 10, at day 28). The participants who did not complete the treatment protocol reported an average pain reduction of 29%, which fluctuated to 22% before they dropped out. Auricular point acupressure is feasible for patients with chronic pain. The preliminary findings of this feasibility study show a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in physical function, which demonstrate the potential for APA as a treatment option for patients with chronic pain.
School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Yeh); Division of Biostatistics, University of Texas School of Public Health at San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, Texas and Research to Advance Community Health Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, Texas (Dr Chien); World Academy of Auricular Medicine, Hoover, Alabama (Dr Huang); and School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HungHom, Hong Kong (Dr Suen).
Chao Hsing
CH
Yeh
Lung-Chang
LC
Chien
Li Chun
LC
Huang
Lorna Kwai-Ping
LK
Suen
D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods*; D020831:Acupuncture, Ear / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires