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Researchers have found that auricular acupressure combined with multimedia instruction for smoking cessation is effective in helping in adolescents quit. They compared auricular acupressure combined with multimedia instruction with auricular acupressure alone. Sixty-four participants were assigned to experimental groups according to their preference. Group 1 received the 10-week program with auricular acupressure plus multimedia instruction; Group 2 received auricular acupressure alone.

Details of the Study: Auricular acupressure combined with multimedia instruction or alone for quitting smoking in young adults: A quasi-experimental study

Yi-Zen Wanga, 1, , Hsing-Hsia Chenb, 2, , Mei-Ling Yehc, , and Shy-Der Linb, 3,

a National Taiwan University Hospital-Kungkuan Region, No.57, Ln. 155, Sec. 3, Keelung Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

b Department of Applied Mathematics, Chung-Yuan Christian University, No. 200, Chungpei Road, Chung-Li City, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC

c School of Nursing, National Taipei College of Nursing, No. 365, Minte Road, Pei-Tou, Taipei 112, Taiwan, ROC

Received 15 June 2009; revised 14 December 2009; accepted 13 February 2010. Available online 9 April 2010.

Abstract

Background

Smoking plays a disease-related risk factor and is however the principal cause of preventable death. Many studies support the use of combined rather than single interventions to stop smoking.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure combined with multimedia instruction in comparison with auricular acupressure alone on smoking cessation in young adults.

Method

A quasi-experimental research design was used and participants were assigned to experimental groups according to their preference. Group 1 received the 10-week program with auricular acupressure plus multimedia instruction; Group 2 received auricular acupressure alone. Thirty-two participants were in each group were recruited from universities in Taiwan. The physical and psychological data were collected right before and after the program.

Results

This study demonstrated the effects of smoking cessation on physical and psychological factors in each group. Statistical between-group differences existed in psychological factors of smoking cessation self-efficacy and nicotine dependence, but not in physical factors of carbon monoxide and cotinine.

Conclusions

This study adds to the body of research on the benefits of using auricular acupressure combined with or without multimedia instruction for smoking cessation in adolescents. The combined intervention was more effective especially in increasing smoking cessation self-efficacy and decreasing nicotine dependence. Further study is suggested adding control groups such as placebo in order to understand a single effect of smoking cessation.

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