Auricular Acupressure for Smoking Cessation

NCT ID: NCT02298127

Last Updated: 2014-11-21

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

90 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-07-31

Study Completion Date

2016-06-30

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Smoking Cessation

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Shenmen, mouth, lung & stomach

Participants in this group will receive 4 weekly treatment sessions of auricular acupressure via the shenmen, mouth, lung and stomach.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Auricular acupressure

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Subcortex,endocrine&sympathetic systems

Participants in this group will receive 4 weekly treatment sessions of auricular acupressure via the subcortex, endocrine and sympathetic systems.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Auricular acupressure

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Elbow, shoulder & knee

Participants in this group will receive 4 weekly treatment sessions of sham-controlled acupressure on the elbow, shoulder and knee acupoints on the auricle that is non-specific to smoking cessation.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Auricular acupressure

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Interventions

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Auricular acupressure

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.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Aged 18 years and over
* Currently smoking at least one cigarette per day in the past 30 days
* Are Hong Kong residents
* Able to communicate in Cantonese
* Currently reside in Hong Kong and expect to continue to do so for the next 6 months
* Have access to a telephone

Exclusion Criteria

* Currently undergoing other smoking cessation or similar programme
* With a known history of allergy to adhesive tapes or history of current otitis externa or other ear disease
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr. Yim Wah Mak

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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YW Mak, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Locations

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School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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YW Mak, PhD

Role: CONTACT

852-2766-6421

V Chiang

Role: CONTACT

852-2766-6683

Facility Contacts

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YW Mak, PhD

Role: primary

852-2766-6421

Other Identifiers

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AASC101114

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id