Research: RUELA and COLLEAGUES,

Listed in Issue 290

Abstract

RUELA and COLLEAGUES, 1 Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Escola de Enfermagem, Alfenas, MG, Brasil;   2 Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Instituto Ciências da Motricidade. Alfenas, MG, Brasil;        3 Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Estatística, Alfenas, MG, Brasil; 4 Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento Materno-Infantil e Saúde Pública, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil set out to evaluate the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in the pain of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and to verify if there were alterations in the use of analgesics after the application of this intervention.

Background

The authors sought to evaluate the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in the pain of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and to verify if there were alterations in the use of analgesics after the application of this intervention.

Methodology

Randomized controlled trial with cancer patients with complaints of pain greater than or equal to four in the Numerical Pain Scale. Two parallel groups were created, an Experimental group, which received auricular acupuncture at energy balance points and at points indicated for the treatment of pain, and a Placebo group, in which fixed placebo points were used. Both groups received the application of semi-permanent needles in eight sessions.

Results

31 cancer patients participated in the study. After the eight auricular acupuncture sessions, there was a significant difference between the groups regarding the reduction of pain intensity (p < 0.001) and of the use of medications (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Auricular acupuncture was effective in reducing the pain of patients receiving chemotherapy. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-6k3rqh.

References

Ludmila de Oliveira Ruela  1 , Denise Hollanda Iunes  2 , Denismar Alves Nogueira  3 , Juliana Stefanello  4 , Clícia Valim Côrtes Gradim  1 Effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in the treatment of cancer pain: randomized clinical trial. Rev Esc Enferm USP.; 52:e03402. doi: 10.1590/S1980-220X2017040503402. Dec 13 2018. [Article in Portuguese, English, Spanish]

 

Comment

The above research found that auricular acupuncture was effective in reducing the pain of patients receiving chemotherapy.

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