The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential efficacy of auricular acupressure to stimulate specific acupoints in enhancing smoking cessation by reducing nicotine withdrawal symptoms among attendees in primary healthcare settings.
Uncontrolled trials indicated that auricular acupressure is an effective treatment for addictive behaviors such as smoking cessation. However, some methodological limitations can be identified among clinical trials in this area, and it is not clear whether it is more efficacious to use the commonly-used acupoints or other points that are specifically for reducing the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. The study addresses the identified methodological shortcomings of the previous similar studies. It consists of a total of three intervention groups, which allows comparisons between the commonly-used acupoints of acupressure, acupoints specific to smoking cessation, and a sham-controlled intervention. The study does not only focus on the efficacy of smoking cessation but also assesses the mediate effect of auricular acupressure on nicotine withdrawal by questionnaire and biomarkers. This is the first study of its kind to yield information on the acceptability and effectiveness of a safe, available auricular acupressure technique on smoking cessation in Hong Kong. The findings could provide further information for the development of future tobacco-control activities targeting smokers in a wider population who would like to use acupressure as a treatment option.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
90
For each auricular acupressure weekly session, magnetic ears tacks will be will be applied by certified traditional Chinese medicine practitioners according to the allocated group assignment, for a duration of one month.
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
RECRUITING7-day point prevalence by self report
Time frame: 1.25 month after the initial contact
7-day point prevalence by self report, validated by biochemical measures
Obtaining CO measurement and testing urinary cotinine for those participants who report quitting smoking
Time frame: 6 month
Withdrawal symptoms
Measured by two biomarkers for nicotine dependence: the gene expression level of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and dopamine level
Time frame: 1.25 month after the initial contact
Feasibility outcome assessed in terms of participant recruitment, acupressure session attendance, retention, preference for using TCM for smoking cessation, perceived usefulness and confidence of quitting smoking by acupressure
Feasibility outcomes will be assessed in terms of participant recruitment, acupressure session attendance, retention, preference for using TCM for smoking cessation, perceived usefulness and confidence of quitting smoking by acupressure
Time frame: 6 month
Acceptability: Subjective data on acceptability of auricular acupressure for smoking cessation
Subjective data on acceptability of auricular acupressure for smoking cessation will be collected at each visit
Time frame: 1 month
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