Effect of Self-administered Auricular Acupressure on Smoking Cessation-a Pilot Study

Queen's University

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2

Conditions: Smoking Cessation

Treatments: Other: acupuncture

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01389622

SMC01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Auricular acupressure has been practiced in China and Germany to help people in smoking cessation programs. The purpose of this clinical trial is to test for the clinical effectiveness of self-administered auricular acupressure as a non-invasive method for smoking cessation.

Full description

Auricular acupressure has been practiced in China and Germany to help people in smoking cessation programs with varying degrees of success in different settings. The purpose of this clinical trial is to test for the clinical effectiveness of self-administered auricular acupressure as a non-invasive method for smoking cessation.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants are included in the study if they satisfy the following criteria:

  • Male or female.
  • Between 18 and 75 years of age inclusive.
  • Able to provide informed consent to study.
  • History of tobacco cigarette smoking for at least 6 months.
  • Confirmed intention of smoking cessation with no more than 2 previous failed attempts in the last 3 year.

Exclusion criteria

• Existing pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation.
• History of major psychiatric disorder or chronic pain syndromes.
• More than 2 failed attempts of smoking cessation in the previous 3 years.
• History of other substance abuse.
• History of atopy, or suspected/known allergy to plaster.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

60 participants in 3 patient groups

Arm 1: NADA points and digital pressure

Experimental group

Description:

Arm 1: NADA points and digital pressure with urge.

Treatment:

Other: acupuncture

Other: acupuncture

Arm 2: random points + digital pressure with urge

Experimental group

Description:

Arm 2 (20 participants): random points + digital pressure with urge

Treatment:

Other: acupuncture

Other: acupuncture

Arm 3 (20 participants): NO acupressure, only advice + support

No Intervention group