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Clinical Trial
. 2002 Oct;92(10):1642-7.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.10.1642.

Auricular acupuncture, education, and smoking cessation: a randomized, sham-controlled trial

Ian D Bier  1 , Jeffrey Wilson, Pat Studt, Mary Shakleton
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Auricular acupuncture, education, and smoking cessation: a randomized, sham-controlled trial

Ian D Bier et al. Am J Public Health. 2002 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the effect of acupuncture alone and in combination with education on smoking cessation and cigarette consumption.

Methods: We prospectively studied 141 adults in a quasi-factorial design using acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and education.

Results: All groups showed significant reductions in smoking and posttreatment cigarette consumption, with the combined acupuncture-education group showing the greatest effect from treatment. The trend continued in follow-up; however, significant differences were not maintained. Greater pack-year history (i.e. the number of years smoking multiplied by baseline number of cigarettes smoked per year, divided by 20 cigarettes per pack) negatively correlated with treatment effect. Trend analysis suggested 20 pack-years as the cutoff point for this correlation.

Conclusions: Acupuncture and education, alone and in combination, significantly reduce smoking; however, combined they show a significantly greater effect, as seen in subjects with a greater pack-year history.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
—Percentage of subjects nonsmoking at follow-up, by treatment group.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
—Percentage decrease in smoking at follow-up, by treatment group.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
—Change in posttreatment cigarette use and pack-year history, by treatment group.
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