title: Auricular point acupressure as an adjunct analgesic treatment for cancer patients: a feasibility study.
abstract: This study aimed (1) to examine the feasibility of an auricular point acupressure (APA) research protocol in terms of recruitment and for the assessment and management of pain and (2) to examine the potential APA analgesic effects for cancer patients. This study was a repeated-measures one-group design. Participants were recruited from the cancer center follow-up clinic affiliated with a large university hospital in the northeastern United States. Participants included 50 patients aged 55-87 years with a diagnosis of cancer. Participants received 7 days of APA treatment for their pain. After appropriate acupoints were identified, vaccaria seeds were carefully taped onto each selected auricular point on each ear. The study recruitment and retention rates were 92% and 91%, respectively. Importantly, the study found preliminary evidence for the analgesic effects of APA for cancer pain management. For example, by the end of the 7-day study, APA reduced pain intensity more than 55% for "worst pain" and about 57% for "average pain" and "pain intensity." Moreover, the use of pain medication was reduced during the APA treatment (e.g., 78% of patients [n = 39] took less pain medication than before the treatment). APA appears to be highly acceptable to patients with cancer-related pain. However, without a placebo control, we cannot draw conclusive evidence for the analgesic effect of APA for cancer patients. A sham group must be added to future studies to differentiate the true effects of APA from the possible psychological effects of the APA treatment.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Chao Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, University of Texas School of Public Health at San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, Texas; Research to Advance Community Health Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Lung-Chang
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Tao-Yuen, Taiwan. Electronic address: ycchiang@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yi Chien
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Dianxu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Lorna Kwai-Ping
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Suen
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000072716:Cancer Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics