Ear-acupressure for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial (RCT)

Ear-acupressure is a non-invasive treatment that involves taping small round pellets onto points in the ear. A two-week run-in period will be used to collect baseline data, including, nicotine withdrawal symptoms record, number of cigarettes smoked daily and record of nicotine replacement thearapy usage. After a two-week run-in period, each participant will be given ear-acupressure treatment once per week for eight weeks by a registered acupuncturist. Stainless-steel Press-pellet Tapes (Magrain Pellets: Cat. No. PELSST S/Steel Tan, Acuneeds Co., Australia), will be used for this study. The participants will be instructed in the technique of how to press the five pellets three times daily by themselves throughout the week and whenever they feel a craving for cigarettes. During the week, participants will need to record how many pellets remain attached each day in the case report form. At weekly visits, the acupuncturist will remove the remaining pellets and attach new pellets to the same acupuncture points on the ear on the opposite side of the body. The two ears will be used alternately on a weekly basis for the 8 weeks with the left ear being used at first treatment. Participants are required to select a quit date within the first two treatment weeks.