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Chinese Auriculotherapy on Stress and Quality of Life in Nursing Professionals: Randomized Clinical Trial

Randomized Clinical Trial: Chinese Auriculotherapy With and Without Protocol on Stress and Quality of Life in Nursing Professionals

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01420835
Enrollment
175
Registered
2011-08-22
Start date
2011-09-30
Completion date
2012-12-31
Last updated
2013-01-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Quality of Life, Stress

Keywords

Stress, Quality of life

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to assess stress levels and quality of life in the nursing team of Samaritan Hospital and evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese auriculotherapy used with and without closed protocol on reducing the stress levels and improvement of life quality.

Detailed description

Based on the positive results achieved in a preliminary study conducted in January and February 2010, entitled Applicability of auricular needles or seeds for the reduction of stress in nursing professionals at the University Hospital, emerged from this research project in order to extend the first study, with a more representative sample and with a design that would allow further discussions on the effectiveness of Chinese auricular needles semi-permanent to reduce stress and thereby improving the quality of life of nursing professionals. This clinical trial aims, above all, compare the results of the technique with the use of closed protocol and a group without protocol. The latter, however, shall be based on energy evaluation according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the course of treatment will be performed similarly to the clinical practice commonly performed by traditional practitioners, that is, individually, not necessarily repetitive and whose continuation is achieved depending on the answers to each treatment. Discussions are justified about protocol and no protocol research in complementary and integrative practices, since the methodologies proposed and accepted by the scientific community does not always seem to be appropriate tools for evaluating therapies like those coming from the East. The transfer of the Western conception of research according to positivist principles are not always consistent with the principles underlying the complementary and alternative therapies, and in particular the practice from China.

Interventions

OTHERAuriculotherapy (protocol group)

The auriculotherapy points of the protocol group will be 5 points (Liver yang1, Liver yang2, Shenmen, Kidney, Brainstem), during 45 days, twice per week, 12 sessions and assessment of the follow-up (30 days) after finishing the treatment.

OTHERwithout protocol group

The chinese auriculotherapy is a intervention used by Chinese Traditional Medicine in order to balance the body energy and to treat several kind of diseases using semi-permanent needles in specific points of the auricular pavilion. Five points will be chosen to treat stress according to the symptoms and the Chinese diagnosis.

Sponsors

Sociedade Hospital Samaritano
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Sao Paulo
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Score by the List of Stress Symptoms (40 to 95 points) Voluntary participation in the study Availability of time for submission to the sessions

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy Medical license or vacation during the period If they perform another chinese treatment like a massage, acupuncture, moxibustion etc

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
stress levels75 daysThe measurement of stress levels will be performed by List of Stress Symptoms (Vasconcellos) and the main symptoms

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
quality of life domains75 daysThe assessment of life quality domains will be done by SF36v2

Countries

Brazil

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026