Effects of Acupuncture and Acupressure on Burnout in Health Care Workers: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Background: Health care workers face occupational stressors that may lead to burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Strategies to mitigate the negative psychological impact on frontline workers are urgently needed. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of auricular acupuncture or acupressure, as compared with ear massage, on anxiety, burnout, and caring capacity in health care workers. Results were stratified on the basis of subject's level of belief in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods: This prospective randomized trial with an open, parallel-group design was conducted at a 334-bed Level II pediatric trauma center. Participants were randomized to one of three groups: (1) auricular acupuncture, (2) auricular seed acupressure, or (3) auricular massage. Interventions were delivered over 3 weeks. Self-reported State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL), and Caring Ability Inventory (CAI) scores were analyzed using a pre-/posttest design. Univariate analysis, Fisher's exact test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to assess group differences. Results: A total of 117 (36%) of 325 eligible participants consented to participate in the study. Seed acupressure treatment (n = 14, 35.9%, one male, 13 females) was associated with a reduction in burnout (ANOVA, p = .04) and secondary traumatic stress (p = .03). This effect remained significant after adjusting for individual pretest scores (ANOVA, p = .05). The studied interventions did not have a significant effect on STAI, ProQOL, or CAI scores. Conclusions: Auricular acupressure is a safe, effective, and practical strategy to reduce burnout and secondary traumatic stress and may support health care workers' ability to develop caring relationships with patients and families.

Efficacy of Transcendental Meditation to Reduce Stress Among Health Care Workers

“…Several randomized clinical trials have evaluated strategies to reduce stress and burnout, such as the use of psychological or sensory-emotional techniques, [10][11][12][13] group discussions, 14,15 mindfulnessor compassion-based programs, [16][17][18][19] auricular acupressure, 20 and cannabidiol treatment. 21 These studies reported some short-term improvements; however, small cohorts, high attrition rates, lack of sample diversity, or the need for pharmacological therapy has limited their utility, highlighting the need for rigorously tested interventions for burnout.…”

The Effectiveness of Ear Acupuncture on Quality of Life and Emotional Disorders in Nursing Professionals During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The present study highlights the benefits of the technique in nursing professionals, since it achieved a reduction of 3.08 points on the IES-R scale, which was statistically significant, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A study [49] also presented positive results in relation to PTSD in healthcare professionals, using ear acupressure with seeds, concluding that this intervention is a safe, effective, and practical strategy for reducing the levels of this disorder [47].…”

Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupressure for Perception of Stress and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Self-Acupressure for Stress (SAS) Trial

“… 9 Another randomized trial found that auricular acupressure was effective at reducing burnout and secondary traumatic stress. 10 A third randomized trial found that self-administered acupressure increased both sleep quality and quality of life in breast cancer patients. 11 Further, a metaanalysis and systematic review of multiple acupressure trials found moderate evidence demonstrating a significant association between acupressure and lowered pain intensity in cancer patients.…”