The Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Smoking Cessation for Male College Students

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of auricular acupressure for smoking cessation on male college students. The experimental group ( n = 27) received auricular acupressure on specific acupoints for smoking cessation, whereas the control group ( n = 26) received sham auricular acupressure on nonspecific acupoints. Participants received 6 weeks of auricular acupressure intervention. For the experimental group, auricular acupressure was applied to the shenmen, lung, subcortex, hunger, stomach, and mouth. The data of nicotine dependence, self-efficacy for smoking cessation, and exhaled carbon monoxide were collected for both group 3 times: before intervention, after 3 weeks of the intervention, and after 6 weeks of the intervention. Statistical differences between the two groups from pretest to posttest emerged in self-efficacy for smoking cessation ( p = .048) and exhaled carbon monoxide ( p < .001), but not for nicotine dependence.