Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39931130›Full record

ReviewTobacco induced diseases2025

The effectiveness and safety of auricular acupoint-related therapy for nicotine dependence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qindong Mi, Xiaolong Zhao, Zhijun Zhang, Fei Bao

Registry-linked trialAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Tobacco induced diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07466875 (The Efficacy of Auricular Acupressure Combined With Nicotine Replacement Therapy on Nicotine Craving, Withdrawal Symptoms and Anxiety Levels in Psychiatric Inpatients), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07466875 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

The Efficacy of Auricular Acupressure Combined With Nicotine Replacement Therapy on Nicotine Craving, Withdrawal Symptoms and Anxiety Levels in Psychiatric Inpatients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorChiao-Chiao LiaoRan2026 to 2027Enrolled60ConditionsNicotine Dependence, Nicotine Withdrawal, Tobacco Use Disorder, AnxietyArmsAuricular acupressure, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (Nicotine patch plus NRT gum or lozenge), Sham Auricular Acupressure
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Qindong MiDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Xiaolong ZhaoDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Zhijun ZhangDepartment of Urology Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Fei BaoDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThis study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture-related therapies (AARTs) in managing nicotine dependence (ND).

methodsWe searched eight databases from their inception through December 2024 and screened randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating AART for ND. The primary outcome was the ND cessation rate. We assessed study quality using the ROB-2 tool and applied the GRADE approach to determine the certainty or quality of of evidence.

resultsNine RCTs involving 1032 patients were analyzed. Meta-analysis results indicate that AART significantly reduces the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale score (MNWS) in ND patients compared to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (mean difference, MD=1.47; 95% CI: 0.06-2.88, p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in ND point cessation rate, Fagerström test for nicotine dependence score (FTND), Hamilton Anxiety Scale score (HAMA), daily smoking volume, or exhaled CO levels between AART and NRT. Notably, AART was associated with a lower incidence of adverse events compared to NRT (relative risk, RR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.04-0.56, p<0.01). There were also no significant differences in the ND point cessation rate between auricular-plaster therapy (APT), body acupuncture (BA), and the combination of APT and BA.

conclusionsAART is effective in improving ND, showing greater efficacy in reducing MNWS and enhanced safety compared to NRT. Given the limited number of studies, the optimal AART regimen remains undetermined. Further research is needed to confirm and refine these findings.

Indexed as

acupoint-related therapymeta-analysisnicotine dependencerandomized controlled trialsystematic reviewtobacco dependence

Identifiers

PMID39931130
PMCPMC11808481

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.