Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation

Abstract

Background Acupuncture and related techniques are promoted as a treatment for smoking cessation in the belief that they may reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Objectives The objectives of this review are to determine the e ectiveness of acupuncture and the related interventions of acupressure, laser therapy and electrostimulation in smoking cessation, in comparison with no intervention, sham treatment, or other interventions. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Register (which includes trials of smoking cessation interventions identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO) and AMED in October 2013. We also searched four Chinese databases in September 2013: Sino-Med, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and VIP. Selection criteria Randomized trials comparing a form of acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy or electrostimulation with either no intervention, sham treatment or another intervention for smoking cessation. Data collection and analysis We extracted data in duplicate on the type of smokers recruited, the nature of the intervention and control procedures, the outcome measures, method of randomization, and completeness of follow-up. We assessed abstinence from smoking at the earliest time-point (before six weeks) and at the last measurement point between six months and one year. We used the most rigorous definition of abstinence for each trial, and biochemically validated rates if available. Those lost to follow-up were counted as continuing smokers. Where appropriate, we performed meta-analysis pooling risk ratios using a fixed-e ect model. Main results We included 38 studies. Based on three studies, acupuncture was not shown to be more e ective than a waiting list control for longterm abstinence, with wide confidence intervals and evidence of heterogeneity (n = 393, risk ratio [RR] 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98 to 3.28, I = 57%). Compared with sham acupuncture, the RR for the short-term e ect of acupuncture was 1.22 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.38), Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation (Review)

Toward Enhancing Treatment for Pregnant Smokers: Laying the Groundwork for the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approaches

“…Acupuncture and acupressure (a similar treatment that uses stimulation of specific points in the body without the use of needles) have been evaluated as potential CAM treatments for smoking cessation (e.g., White, Rampes, Liu, Stead, & Campbell, 2014;White & Taylor, 2014) and depression (e.g., Stub, Alraek, & Liu, 2011). In particular, some have suggested that these treatments may be effective for smoking cessation by reducing nicotine withdrawal symptoms; however, these studies were uncontrolled .…”

Examining the Role of the Health Care Professional in Controlling the Tobacco Epidemic: Individual, Organizational and Institutional Responsibilities

“…Although proposed to act by weakening the desire to smoke and strengthening the will to stop, and widely promoted as methods to aid smoking cessation, the effects described in uncontrolled studies have been notoriously difficult to confirm in randomized controlled trials [37]. Recent rigorous evidence-based reviews suggest there is no clear evidence of a benefit for either acupuncture or hypnotherapy [38,39]. Acupuncture was less effective than nicotine replacement therapy, and hypnotherapy did not have a greater effect than any other intervention or no therapy.…”

Wissen Studierende im Praktischen Jahr genug über die Behandlung der Alkohol- und Tabak-Abhängigkeit?

“…30 % [6]; Willenskraft allein: maximal 5 % [9]). Zugleich wurde die in einer Cochrane-Analyse [24] belegte Effektivität einer hausärztlichen Beratung von den Studierenden deutlich geringer eingeschätzt als die Effektivität der Akupunktur -für letztere wurde bislang kein Effektivitäts-nachweis erbracht [30]. Die Effektivitäts-Einschätzungen für Methoden zur Behandlung der Alkoholabhängigkeit waren etwas realistischer; so erkannten die Studierenden den Wert einer Entzugsbehandlung mit anschließender Entwöhnungstherapie sowie die moderate Effektivität von Selbsthilfegruppen [5], stationärem Entzug [16] und hausärztlicher Beratung [11] als alleinige Methoden zur Abstinenzaufrechterhaltung.…”