Trial Outcomes & Findings for Auriculotherapy for Smoking Cessation: Pilot (NCT NCT01189110)

NCT ID: NCT01189110

Last Updated: 2015-04-28

Results Overview

Percentage of study participants free from smoking at 6 weeks based on self-report (yes/no).

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

125 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

6 weeks

Results posted on

2015-04-28

Participant Flow

Participants were recruited between August 2010 and January 2011 at the St. Louis VA. The inclusion criteria were age 19 years or older and currently smoking ≥10 cigarettes per day. Two hundred thirteen veterans who either responded to a mailing or were referred by their primary care physician expressed interest in the study.

Seventeen were excluded due to eligibility criteria. The remaining 196 were scheduled to attend a 1-hour smoking cessation class. Twenty-nine did not attend. Eleven did not keep the consent appointment. Another 31 did not enroll for other reasons. Thus, 125 participants were randomized: 64 to the intervention group and 61 to the placebo group.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Arm 1
Intervention- true Stim Flex treatment
Arm 2
Placebo group- sham Stim Flex machine
Overall Study
STARTED
64
61
Overall Study
COMPLETED
64
61
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Auriculotherapy for Smoking Cessation: Pilot

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Arm 1
n=64 Participants
Two separate Stim Flex machines will be used in this study: Machine A (usual care) will be a usual functioning machine which is FDA approved; Machine B (sham treatment) will be altered to disable the electrical current to flow to the probe. Otherwise both machines will be identical and function identical except at the time the electrical current is given thru the probe. There is no alteration to the outside of either Stem Flex machines, the alteration to the sham machine will be internal, and will appear and sound identical to the Stim Flex machine which has not been altered.
Arm 2
n=61 Participants
Machine B (sham treatment) will be altered to disable the electrical current to flow to the probe. Otherwise both machines will be identical and function identical except at the time the electrical current is given thru the probe. There is no alteration to the outside of either Stem Flex machines, the alteration to the sham machine will be internal, and will appear and sound identical to the Stim Flex machine which has not been altered.
Total
n=125 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
64 Participants
n=5 Participants
61 Participants
n=7 Participants
125 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
55.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.1 • n=5 Participants
55.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10 • n=7 Participants
55.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.5 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
30 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
48 Participants
n=5 Participants
47 Participants
n=7 Participants
95 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
64 participants
n=5 Participants
61 participants
n=7 Participants
125 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 weeks

Population: A middle-aged, US military veteran population not free of smoking (at least 10 cigarettes per day) and not currently in reciept of any other form of smoking cessation intervention.

Percentage of study participants free from smoking at 6 weeks based on self-report (yes/no).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Arm 1- Intervention
n=64 Participants
Receipt of auriculotherapy via a Stim Flex machine that provided full electrical flow of current to the ear probe.
Arm 2- Placebo
n=61 Participants
Receipt of sham auriculotherapy via a Stim Flex machine that disabled electrical flow of current to the ear probe.
Percentage of Self-reported Abstinence at 6 Weeks.
12.3 percentage of participants
Interval 4.0 to 20.7
12.9 percentage of participants
Interval 4.0 to 21.7

Adverse Events

Arm 2- Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Arm 1- Intervention

Serious events: 2 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Arm 2- Placebo
n=61 participants at risk
Machine B (sham treatment) will be altered to disable the electrical current to flow to the probe. Otherwise both machines will be identical and function identical except at the time the electrical current is given thru the probe. There is no alteration to the outside of either Stem Flex machines, the alteration to the sham machine will be internal, and will appear and sound identical to the Stim Flex machine which has not been altered.
Arm 1- Intervention
n=64 participants at risk
Two separate Stim Flex machines will be used in this study: Machine A (usual care) will be a usual functioning machine which is FDA approved; Machine B (sham treatment) will be altered to disable the electrical current to flow to the probe. Otherwise both machines will be identical and function identical except at the time the electrical current is given thru the probe. There is no alteration to the outside of either Stem Flex machines, the alteration to the sham machine will be internal, and will appear and sound identical to the Stim Flex machine which has not been altered.
Psychiatric disorders
hospitalization
0.00%
0/61
1.6%
1/64 • Number of events 1
Renal and urinary disorders
hospitalization
0.00%
0/61
1.6%
1/64 • Number of events 1

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Deborah Fritz FNP PhD

VAMC St. Louis MO

Phone: 314-652-4100

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place