Ear Acupressure For Smoking Cessation - 1421 Words

Ear Acupressure for Smoking Cessation Smoking is a prevalent problem throughout the United States. It is an addiction and it can be very challenging for individuals to quit. However, through medication and nonpharmacological treatments smoking cessation is possible. One nonpharmacological method that has been researched is using ear acupressure. This paper will discuss the research article Ear Acupressure for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial and how it relates to a hospital patient. People with addictions can have a very difficult time overcoming them. While pharmacological methods have been effective, it is worth it to do research and see if nonpharmacological methods can be more effective. The science of†¦show more content†¦The study aimed to investigate effectiveness and safety of using ear acupressure in smoking cessation. A single acupuncturist was trained to perform the same procedures during each consultation and did not discuss any aspect of the procedures with participants to ens ure blinding and treatment consistency. Participants were recruited using the local newspaper advertisements, posters and the RMIT University website which led to a very large sample size. This is appropriate for a study of this nature which has an extensive list of exclusion criteria. There were ninety-five smokers that were screened for eligibility for the study, eighteen failed to meet inclusion criteria, ten did not wish to participate, twelve were unable to participate, and twelve were unable to be reached after the screening process (Anthony, Yuan Ming, Worsnop, May, Cliff Da, Charlie, 2013). The reliability of a study refers to the study’s consistency and that repeated measures produced similar measurement values. The validity of a study is determined by the degree in which an instrument measures what it is supposed to measure (Burns, Grove, Gray, pp.287-290, 2015). This study however, did not determine either validity or reliability. The inclusion criteria were individuals who were 18 and older, smoked more than ten cigarettes per day for a year or greater, and the intention to quit smoking on an agreed date. The exclusion criteria was: any pathological condition of the ear;