Auricular Point Acupressure Research Articles

Auricular point acupressure for managing postoperative pain and reducing anxiety in patients with perianal abscesses

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of auricular point acupressure in relieving postoperative pain and reducing anxiety among patients with perianal abscesses. MethodsWe included 61 patients with perianal abscesses who were admitted to the Nantong First People's Hospital between July 2019 and June 2020 and were scheduled to undergo one-stage radical surgery. We divided them into the treatment group (n = 31), where patients were administered preoperative auricular acupressure targeting the bilateral Shenmen, subcortical, and other points. They were instructed to apply pressure five to six times per day, each time for about 3–5 min. Patients in the control group (n = 30) received routine preoperative preparation. The treatment duration for both groups was one week. We compared the two groups using the pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, the use of additional postoperative analgesics, and scores on the Hamilton anxiety and depression scales pre- and post-surgery at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 1 week after surgery, as well as at the time of the first bowel movement. ResultsPatients in the treatment group reported lower VAS scores than those of the control group at 48 h, 72 h, 1 week, and at the first defecation post-surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Additional postoperative analgesics were used in seven patients in the treatment group (22.58 %) and in 10 patients in the control group (33.33 %). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.88, P = 0.35). Postoperative scores for the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrated that auricular point acupressure was effective in alleviating postoperative pain in patients with perianal abscesses and simultaneously reduced their postoperative psychological stress reactions. This dual effect provided both pain relief and a reduction of anxiety with fewer adverse reactions, making it a safe and effective treatment option.

Adapting and Evaluating a Theory-Driven, Non-Pharmacological Intervention to Self-Manage Pain.

The existing literature has limited detail on theory-driven interventions, particularly in pain studies. We adapted Bandura's self-efficacy framework toward a theory-driven, non-pharmacological intervention using auricular point acupressure (APA) and evaluated participants' perceptions of this intervention on their pain self-management. APA is a non-invasive modality based on auricular acupuncture principles. We mapped our study intervention components according to Bandura's key sources of self-efficacy (performance accomplishments, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and emotional arousal) to facilitate the self-management of pain. Through a qualitative study design, we conducted virtual interviews at one and three months after a 4-week APA intervention among 23 participants using purposive sampling to describe their experiences in managing their pain based on our theory-driven APA intervention. Using thematic analyses, we found four themes: the enhanced self-management of pain, improved pain outcomes, the feasibility of technology, and the sustainability of APA. Describing how interventions are mapped according to the elements of theoretical frameworks can help to guide intervention development, advance science and knowledge development, and promote the implementation of interventions. As such, using Bandura's self-efficacy theory as a foundation for the APA intervention, APA was found to be feasible and sustainable, improving self-management, pain intensity, and pain-related outcomes. Participants provided recommendations for the further improvement of this theory-driven intervention.

Auricular Point Acupressure: A Complementary Medicine Treatment for Pain Management

Auricular Point Acupressure: A Complementary Medicine Treatment for Pain Management

Retention, adherence, and acceptability testing of a digital health intervention in a 3-group randomized controlled trial for chronic musculoskeletal pain

ObjectivesEvaluate a digital health intervention using Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) for chronic musculoskeletal pain in terms of participant retention, adherence, acceptability, and satisfaction. Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a global concern and there are persistent challenges in pain management. Despite the value of digital health interventions, these interventions need to be fully evaluated for feasibility. MethodsWe conducted a 3-group, longitudinal, randomized controlled trial (RCT). After Institutional Review Board approval, we posted recruitment flyers in a university, healthcare clinics, and community settings. Participants were randomized into an in-person + app group (n = 8), virtual + app group (n = 7), and a wait-list, education-enhanced control group (n = 8), evaluating our outcomes using standard feasibility measures. The 4-week intervention consisted of virtual sessions, telecommunications, and our APA app, followed by a 3-month follow-up. ResultsData from 22 participants were subsequently analyzed (95.7%). All app participants adhered to the study protocol and used APA at the minimum recommended frequency and duration. The virtual + app group used APA more during the intervention and follow-up periods. All app participants found the intervention to be acceptable and at least 80% overall were satisfied with APA at the 3-month follow-up. There were no adverse events reported. ConclusionsOur digital health intervention was found to be acceptable and sustainable; participants adhered to and were satisfied with the intervention providing support for a larger RCT. Clinical Trial#: NCT05020470

A randomized controlled study of auricular point acupressure to manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: Study protocol.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN) significantly impacts cancer patients, leading to functional disability, diminished quality of life, and increased healthcare costs amid the ongoing opioid crisis. Auricular point acupressure (APA), a non-invasive and non-pharmacological alternative, has shown potential for alleviating the pain, numbness, and tingling associated with CIN. This study aims to assess the efficacy of APA for CIN symptoms and physical function and to examine the mechanisms underlying APA's effects on CIN. This is a three-arm randomized controlled clinical trial protocol. Patients aged 18 and older who are experiencing CIN are randomly assigned to one of the three groups: an APA group (in-person APA; mAPA), a sham control group (virtual APA; vAPA), and a wait-list usual care control group (UC). During the four-week program, participants in the mAPA receive an in-person APA treatment and training; the sham control participants (vAPA) receive a self-guided smartphone APA application with APA demonstration videos; and the UC participants will continue with the usual care and be re-randomized into one of the APA groups. The primary outcomes are changes in CIN symptoms and physical function. Secondary outcomes include evaluating pain sensory thresholds, motor and cognitive functioning, inflammatory signaling, brain connectivity, opioid use, and quality of life. The outcomes are measured at baseline, program completion (4 weeks), and at monthly follow-up for 3 months post-intervention. This study will provide evidence supporting the potential viability of APA as an intervention for CIN. ClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT04920097 registered on 3 June 2021.

Efficacy of Auricular Point Acupressure with Magnetic Plates on Postpartum Anxiety and Depression in Low Risk Parturient at Thammasat University Hospital: A Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial

Objective: To study the effectiveness of auricular acupressure (AC) with and without magnetic plates in reducing anxiety and depression levels among parturients. Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized controlled trial conducted at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University Hospital, Pathum Thani, Thailand, between March 2022 and February 2023. All participants were term nulliparous pregnant women delivered who during the study period. Participants were randomly allocated into three groups with control for non-AC, study for AC with magnetic plates, and placebo for AC with non-magnetic plates. Three specific auricular points, namely Shenmen (HT7), Heart (CO15), and Subcortex (AT4) were selected. Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Thai HADS) was evaluated at 2, 14, 28, and 42 days postpartum. Results: Two hundred twenty-five cases were recruited and divided evenly into control, study, and placebo groups. The mean age of participants was 28.5 years old. Body mass index (BMI), education level, and demographic characteristics among the three groups were comparable. Prevalence of anxiety and depression was 4.4% (10/225) and 7.5% (17/225). Participants in placebo and study groups had statistically significant relief of anxiety levels within six weeks when compared to the control group. All subjects had lower depression scores within four weeks of delivery. AC with and without magnetic plates reduced postpartum depression compared to the control group. Satisfaction of AC was reported at 84% (126/150). Conclusion: AC with or without magnetic plates at HT7, CO15, and AT4 significantly reduced anxiety and decreased depression with less confidence in postpartum subjects. Keywords: Auricular acupressure; Anxiety; Depression; Postpartum; Magnetic plates

Auricular point acupressure in patients with chronic low back pain: A literature study

&lt;div class="WordSection1"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Background: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Chronic low back pain is defined as pain that persists for 12 weeks or more and is a major health problem worldwide and is associated with high medical costs, decreased productivity, and disability. The use of analgesics with nonsteroidal&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;anti-inflammatory drugs or opioids is one of the most common strategies to manage CLBP, but is not free from various adverse side effects. The use of other effective interventions to control pain including non-opioid medications, topical treatments, physical modalities, and complementary and alternative therapies is needed to reduce the side effects resulting from the use of pharmacological therapies. Auricular Point Acupressure is one of the complementary strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that is widely used clinically to treat pain. APA may be useful for acute or chronic pain, either alone or in combination with other treatments.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Objectives: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;To analyze the effectiveness of Auricular Point Acupressure for chronic low back pain.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Methods: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Literature review through online databases namely: Google Scholar, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Scopus on articles with free full-text criteria, using Indonesian or English, publication in the last 10 years (2013-2022), and research designs of clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta- analysis. The article search used the keywords (low back pain OR low back pain OR back pain) AND (auriculotherapy OR auricular therapy OR auricular acupressure OR ear acupressure) AND (pain OR disability).&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Results: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;50 articles were found with 5 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Of the five articles, the majority explained that the use of Auricular Acupressure is relatively safe and effective for reducing chronic low back pain, some articles showed a decrease in disability rates and improved sleep quality.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Auricular Point Acupressure can be considered a relatively safe and effective complementary therapy fopr reducing chronic low back pain.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Comparison and Efficacy of Auricular Point Acupressure with Auricular Patches on Lactation in Nulliparous Postpartum Cesarean Delivery Parturients at Thammasat University Hospital: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To compare the lactation enhancing effect of auricular acupressure with or without a magnetic plate on post-cesarean nulliparous parturients. Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in the obstetrics ward of Thammasat University Hospital, Pathum Thani, Thailand between February and July 2022. Participants were term nulliparous pregnant women aged between 20 and 40 years old who underwent cesarean delivery. They were allocated into three groups, namely magnetic (M), non-magnetic (NM), and control groups. The standard care plan for post-cesarean cases was applied to all patients. Participants in both M and NM groups were assigned to receive auricular acupressure using auricular patches with and without magnetic plates, respectively. The ear pinna has five specific auricular points, namely chest (AH10), endocrine (CO18), stomach or Wei (CO4), spleen or Pi (CO13), and sympathetic points (AH6a). The treatment began immediately after counseling and continued for seven days. The onset of the first lactation, lactation visual assessment (LVA) level was collected using the survey form. Exclusive breastfeeding was encouraged at a rate of every three hours to meet newborn demands. The onset of lactation was assessed within three hours after auricular acupressure and every time before breastfeeding. Results: Seventy-five pregnant women were recruited and allocated with 25 cases per group. Mean maternal age was 30 years. The demographic characteristics of the three groups were comparable. There were more participants in the M group had onset of lactation within 24 hours, than in the control group significantly, at 20 versus 13, respectively (p=0.039). Onset of LVA level 1, 2, and 4 in the three groups were comparable. The onset of LVA level 3 in the M group was significantly faster than the control group (p=0.023). Satisfactory lactation and auricular acupressure among M and NM groups were comparable. Conclusion: Auricular acupressure with magnetic plates significantly enhanced lactation onset and lactation visual volume (level 3) in postcesarean nulliparous parturients. It merits consideration to be included in routine practice. Keywords: Cesarean delivery; Postpartum lactation; Auricular acupressure

Nurse-Administered Auricular Point Acupressure for Cancer-Related Pain.

The study aimed to (1) examine the feasibility of providing a training course on auricular point acupressure (APA) for clinical oncology nurses to integrate APA into real-world nursing care settings, and (2) examine the effectiveness of APA on cancer-related pain (CRP) under usual inpatient oncology ward conditions. This was a 2-phase feasibility study. Phase 1, an in-person, 8 hour training program was provided to oncology nurses. Phase 2, a prospective and feasibility study was conducted to evaluate the integration of APA into nursing care activities to manage CRP. Oncology patients were included if their pain was rated at ≥4 on a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale in the past 24 hours. Patients received 1 APA treatment administered by the nurses and were instructed to stimulate the points for 3 days. Study outcomes (pain intensity, fatigue, and sleep disturbance), pain medication use, and APA practice were measured by a phone survey daily. Ten oncology nurses received APA training in phase 1. APA had been added to the hospital's electronic health records (EHRs) as a pain treatment. In phase 2, 33 oncology patients received APA treatment with a 100% adherence rate (pressing the seeds 3 times per day, 3 minutes per time based on the suggestion). The side effects of APA were minimal (~8%-12% felt tenderness on the ear). After 3 days of APA, patients reported 38% pain relief, 39% less fatigue, and 45% improvement in sleep disturbance; 24% reduced any type of pain medication use and 19% reduced opioid use (10 mg opioids using milligram morphine equivalent). The major barrier to integrating APA into routine nursing practice was time management (how to include APA in a daily workflow). It is feasible to provide 8-hour training to oncology nurses for mastering APA skill and then integrating APA into their daily nursing care for patients with CRP. Based on the promising findings (decreased pain, improved fatigue and sleep disturbance, and less opioid use), the next step is to conduct a randomized clinical trial with a larger sample to confirm the efficacy of APA for oncology nurses to treat CRP in real-world practice.ClinicalTrial.gov identifier number: NCT04040140.

Effects of Auricular Point Acupressure with Lifestyle Interventions on Cerebrovascular Function among Adults with High Stroke Risk: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background. To investigate the potential benefits of the auricular point acupressure on cerebrovascular function and stroke prevention among adults with high stroke risk. Methods. A randomized controlled study was performed in 105 adults at high risk for stroke between March and July 2021. Participants were randomly allocated (1 : 1) to receive either auricular point acupressure with basic lifestyle interventions (n = 53) or basic lifestyle interventions alone (n = 52) for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the kinematic and dynamic indices of cerebrovascular function, as well as CVHP score at week 2, measured by the Doppler ultrasonography and pressure transducer on carotids. Results. Among the 105 randomized subjects, 86 finished the intervention plans. At week 2, the auricular point acupressure therapy with lifestyle intervention group had higher kinematic indices, cerebrovascular hemodynamic parameters score and lower dynamic indices than the lifestyle intervention group. Conclusions. Cerebrovascular function and cerebrovascular hemodynamic parameters score were greater improved among the participants undergoing auricular point acupressure combined with lifestyle interventions than lifestyle interventions alone. Hence, the auricular point acupressure can assist the stroke prevention. Trail Registration. This trial registered with ChiCTR2100041769 on https://www.chictr.org.cn/.

Biological Correlates of the Effects of Auricular Point Acupressure on Pain

BackgroundTo identify candidate inflammatory biomarkers for the underlying mechanism of auricular point acupressure (APA) on pain relief and examine the correlations among pain intensity, interference, and inflammatory biomarkers. DesignThis is a secondary data analysis. MethodsData on inflammatory biomarkers collected via blood samples and patient self-reported pain intensity and interference from three pilot studies (chronic low back pain, n = 61; arthralgia related to aromatase inhibitors, n = 20; and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, n = 15) were integrated and analyzed. This paper reports the results based on within-subject treatment effects (change in scores from pre- to post-APA intervention) for each study group (chronic low back pain, cancer pain), between-group differences (changes in scores from pre- to post-intervention between targeted-point APA [T-APA] and non-targeted-point APA [NT-APA]), and correlations among pain intensity, interference, and biomarkers. ResultsWithin-group analysis (the change score from pre- to post-APA) revealed statistically significant changes in three biomarkers: TNF-α (cancer pain in the APA group, p = .03), β-endorphin (back pain in the APA group, p = .04), and IL-2 (back pain in the NT-APA group, p = .002). Based on between-group analysis in patients with chronic low back pain (T-APA vs NT-APA), IL-4 had the largest effect size (0.35), followed by TNF-α (0.29). A strong positive monotonic relationship between IL-1β and IL-2 was detected. ConclusionsThe current findings further support the potential role of inflammatory biomarkers in the analgesic effects of APA. More work is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of APA on chronic pain. Because it is simple, inexpensive, and has no negative side effects, APA can be widely disseminated as an alternative to opioids.

Adaptive Auricular Point Acupressure for Sleep Disturbance in Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study aimed to evaluate the preliminary effect and efficacy of auricular point acupressure (APA) on the quality of sleep in women with breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy. Sample & Setting. We conducted a randomized controlled trial on 68 patients with breast cancer who reported poor sleep quality based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (>7). Methods & Variables. Participants were randomly assigned to an APA treatment group or a control group. Patients in the APA group had magnetic pellets attached to selected auricular points and were instructed to apply pressure to these points 4×/day for three consecutive weeks. We objectively measured sleep quality using the Actiwatch Spectrum and the PSQI at the baseline and postintervention. Statistical analyses of changes in sleep data were performed using the t-test, a rank-sum test, and analyses of covariance. In patients treated with APA, the PSQI total score and sleep onset latency had significantly decreased, while the total sleep time and sleep efficiency had significantly increased. Although the total PSQI score differed between groups at the baseline, ANCOVA results showed that the APA group had a significantly lower total PSQI score. APA could be an inexpensive and effective approach to improving sleep quality and reducing sleep disturbance in patients with breast cancer. Further research needs a larger sample size to verify our findings.

Exploring the Feasibility of Virtually Delivered Auricular Point Acupressure in Self-Managing Chronic Pain: Qualitative Study.

Background Chronic pain remains highly prevalent. Current pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies have not adequately managed chronic pain which has contributed to disability and high healthcare costs. With existing challenges in providing adequate pain care and access, we tested vAPA, a virtually delivered, self-management intervention using Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) by mobile app and virtual consultations (telehealth). Our key purpose was to evaluate the feasibility of the vAPA in self-managing chronic pain in preparation for a future randomized controlled trial. Methods We conducted a descriptive, qualitative study evaluating our 4-week vAPA intervention among 18 participants. We used directed qualitative content analysis. Results and Conclusion. Participants perceived that vAPA was feasible (acceptable, useable, practical, and beneficial). In addition, the following themes were gathered: better control of pain, less use of pain medications, self-management and motivation in pain, and expectations for pain relief. Refinements were recommended for the app, content, and delivery to improve study interventions. Findings are relevant in moving forward to a future randomized controlled trial and for wider implementation in a pragmatic clinical trial.

Effectiveness of auricular point acupressure with magnetic plate for pain management in acute postpartum cesarean section patients in Thammasat University Hospital: a randomized clinical controlled trial.

To compare the effectiveness of auricular acupressure with or without magnetic plates to routine post cesarean pain management. This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Thammasat University Hospital, between January and June 2020. All participants were term primigravida pregnant women who underwent cesarean delivery during the study period. Participants were divided into three groups, namely control, placebo and study groups. Study (magnetic application) and placebo (non-magnetic application) groups received magnetic and non-magnetic auricular patches at both pinnas, respectively. Randomized assignments for each group were computer-generated, printed and kept in opaque sealed envelopes. The points in this study were Shenmen (TF4), Erzhong (HX1) and Penqiang (TF5). Visual analog scale (VAS) was immediately recorded up to 72 h after the operation. A total of 195 cases were enrolled during the period of study. Each group had 65 participants. The mean participant's age was 31 years old. Demographic and clinical characters among the three groups were comparable. Pain scores within 12 h postoperative period of all three groups were comparable. Between 36 and 72 h post-operation, study groups had significantly lower VAS than the control group. One-quarter of participants had comparable nausea and vomiting side effects. Auricular acupressure at Shenmen (TF4), Penqiang (TF5) and Erzhong (HX1) with magnetic plate attachment could significantly relieve post cesarean pain between 18 and 72 h.

Analgesic effect of auricular point acupressure for acute pain in patients with dementia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCommon and frequent as acute pain is, it is often underestimated and undertreated in older people with dementia in nursing homes and inadequate pain management remains an issue.MethodsThe study is designed to be a randomized, sham-controlled trial and is underway in nursing homes located in China. A total of 206 dementia patients are being recruited from nursing homes in Yinchuan, China. They are randomly allocated to an intervention or a controlled group in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group will be treated with true APP therapy, while the other group will receive APP at sham point stimulation therapy. The patients will be assessed at baseline (T0), at 5 min during performing the intervention (T1), and at 5 min after completion of the intervention (T2). The primary outcome is the level of pain relief at T1 and T2. Physiological parameters, side effects and additional use of analgesics during the procedure, satisfaction from caregivers, and acceptance of patients are evaluated as secondary outcomes.DiscussionThe results of this study are expected to verify the analgesic effect of APP for acute pain in patients with mild dementia in nursing homes. It has the potential to prompt APP therapy to be implemented widely in dementia patients with acute pain in nursing homes.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100047932. Registered on 27 June 2021. Currently, patient recruitment is ongoing. Recruitment is expected to take place from December 2020 to December 2021.

Qualitative Content Analysis of a Virtually Delivered Auricular Point Acupressure Intervention for Self-Managing Chronic Pain

PURPOSE: Current treatments have not adequately managed chronic pain contributing to high prevalence, disability, and healthcare costs. Further, inadequate access to pain management has resulted to pain care disparities. With the pandemic, availability of pain treatments are limited due to fewer in-person visits and distancing requirements thereby delaying pain care even more. Hence, we tested vAPA, a virtually delivered, self-management intervention using Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) via mobile app and virtual consultations.

Evaluating Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain Self-Management Using Technology: A Feasibility Study

BackgroundChronic low back pain, one of the most common reasons for seeking healthcare services, causes significant negative impacts on individuals and society. Nonpharmacologic therapies and self-management are included in practice guidelines, but their implementation is challenging. AimTo assess the feasibility of using an auricular point acupressure (APA) mobile app as a self-guided tool to learn and self-administer APA to manage chronic low back pain (cLBP) and to compare cLBP outcomes between 2 groups (app vs app + telehealth). DesignA 2-phase study design was used. In phase 1, participants (app group, n = 18) had in-person study visits and installed the app to learn and self-administer APA to manage cLBP. In phase 2, all research activities occurred remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so a second group was recruited (app + telehealth, n = 19). The app + telehealth group underwent a virtual session, installed the app, and were provided the opportunity for questions and verification on the accuracy of the self-administered APA. SettingThe participants were recruited by distributing study flyers at outpatient clinics and referrals. ParticipantsParticipants with chronic low back pain were eliglbe for the study. MethodsUsing a quasi-experimental design with a mixed methods approach, all participants were instructed to download the APA app, provided an APA kit (includes seeds embedded within pre-cut squares of adhesive tape), and advised to self-administer APA with guidance from the app for 4 weeks to manage their cLBP. Study outcomes were collected at the preintervention time point as well as postintervention and 1-month follow-up. Interviews were also conducted at the postintervention time point. ResultsOf the 37 participants enrolled, six dropped out, and the attrition rate was 16%. Adherence to APA practice was high (85%-94%). After 4 weeks of APA treatment, participants in the app + telehealth group experienced a 29% decrease in pain intensity during the postintervention time point and a 35% reduction during the 1-month follow-up. Similar improvements were noted in pain interference (28%) and physical function (39%) for participants in the app + telehealth group at the 1-month follow-up. These changes are slightly higher compared with those in the app group (21% pain intensity reduction, 23% improved pain interferences, and 26% improved physical function) during the 1-month follow-up. Overall, APA was found to be feasible using the app and the qualitative findings showed acceptability of the intervention in both groups. ConclusionsIt is feasible to learn and self-administer APA with an app, supplemented with either in-person or telehealth sessions, presenting a promising intervention toward cLBP self-management. Telehealth was found to boost this intervention effectively.

Auricular Point Acupressure Combined with Compound Lidocaine Cream to Manage Arteriovenous Fistula Puncture Pain: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) puncture pain is an inevitable problem for maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and may seriously endanger the physical and mental health of patients with MHD. Studies have shown that drug or nondrug measures can reduce AVF puncture pain, but much improvement is needed. When combined with compound lidocaine cream (CLC) in the treatment of AVF puncture pain, auricular point acupressure (APA)—a therapeutic method in which specific points on the auricle of the outer ear are stimulated to treat various disorders of the body—and the therapeutic value and synergistic effects of auriculotherapy merit further investigation. Methods 120 MHD patients were recruited at blood purification centers in three hospitals between January 2016 and April 2019. After completion of the baseline survey, all patients were randomly divided by the envelope method into a control group, APA group, CLC group, and APA combined with CLC, with 30 subjects per group. The numerical rating scale (NRS) of pain was used to measure the pain before intervention and 1, 4, and 8 weeks after intervention. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ), blood pressure, and heart rates were obtained before and after the intervention. Results Pain, anxiety, comfort, blood pressure (BP), and heart rates (HR) of the three groups were better than those of the control group; the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In addition, the APA combined with CLC group was better than the APA group and CLC group, respectively, in those outcomes (P < 0.05). Conclusion Both APA and CLC can effectively relieve AVF puncture pain, and the combined application has more outstanding effects.

Therapeutic effects of auricular point acupressure on the recovery of patients after pterygium surgery: A pilot study

Backgroundand purpose: Postoperative pain in the pterygium of the eye seriously affects patient recovery. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of auricular point acupressure treatment on post-operative recovery in patients after pterygium surgery. Materials and methodsThis was a pilot, randomized controlled study. A total of 60 patients (60 eyes) were randomly assigned to two groups. After pterygium surgery, the auricular group was treated using ear acupressure (acupressure points with Cowherb seeds) and the control group was treated using sham auricular therapy (acupressure points without Cowherb seeds). Both groups were treated for one week. Outcome measures included pain score, corneal epithelial score, best-corrected visual acuity, and recurrence rate. ResultsFifty-three patients completed the study. The mean pain scores and corneal epithelial scores were significantly reduced over time in the auricular group compared with those in the control group (p < 0.05). The time-group interaction for both pain scores and corneal epithelial scores was significant between the two groups (p < 0.05). Simple main effect analysis showed the mean pain scores in the auricular group were significantly lower at each time point (the first 2-h, the first day, the third day and the first week, p < 0.05) than the control group. Mean corneal epithelial scores of the auricular group were significantly lower on the first day and third day respectively than the control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the best-corrected visual acuity or recurrence rate between the two groups (p > 0.05). ConclusionAuricular point acupressure accelerates corneal epithelium reconstruction and suppresses postoperative pain, making it an ideal adjunct treatment for postoperative pterygium recovery. Clinical trial registration numberChiCTR2000032490 on http://www.chictr.org.cn/

Auricular Point Acupressure Smartphone Application to Manage Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Longitudinal, One-Group, Open Pilot Trial.

BackgroundChronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is the most common self-reported chronic pain condition. Current treatment for CMP is limited.MethodsThis was a two-phase study. In Phase 1, three auricular point acupressure (APA)-naïve participants were recruited to explore their experiences of APA and a smartphone app was developed based on their feedback. In Phase 2, a prospective longitudinal study was used to examine the effectiveness of the smartphone app to self-manage CMP.ResultsPhase 1 resulted in the successful development of the APA smartphone app. In Phase 2, after four weeks of APA, participants reported reduced pain intensity (30%), pain interference (35%), and disability (40%), as well as improved physical function (47%). The mean score for the participants’ perception of treatment efficacy was 4.94 (SD = 2.08, scale of 0–7) indicating that approximately 70% of participants rated global improvements with noticeable changes. The majority (88%, n = 22) of the participants were satisfied with the treatment: 32% [8] were very satisfied and 56% [n = 14] were somewhat satisfied. The average frequency of pressing APA seeds per day was 2.93 times (SD = 2.27, range 0–10) and 1.60 minutes per time (SD = 2.64, range 0–10); the participants were able to adhere to the suggested pressing time per day, although they only pressed the ear points about 53% of the suggested time.ConclusionIt is feasible for individuals to learn APA from the smartphone app and successfully self-administer APA to manage their pain. Participants found the app useful and were satisfied with the information provided through the app.