Clinical Effect of Auricular Point Sticking in Patients with Lung Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

Objective: To discuss and analyze the clinical effect of auricular point sticking in lung cancer chemotherapy. Methods: Sixty-two patients with lung cancer treated with chemotherapy in Suqian Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Jiangxi Province were selected for case evaluation and analysis. The time span of the research was from June 2020 to June 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: a study group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 31) based on their medical record numbers. All the patients were treated with conventional western medicine before and after chemotherapy to prevent adverse reactions; however, the patients in the study group were also treated with auricular point sticking in addition to the former. The relevant indexes of the two groups were compared. Results: The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05); the rate of symptomatic relief of the patients in the study group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); the stress response indexes toward chemotherapy of the study group were better than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking for patients with lung cancer who are receiving chemotherapy can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions, alleviate clinical symptoms, such as chest distress, asthma, and poor appetite, significantly alleviate stress response caused by chemotherapy, as well as promote the treatment effect; thus, it is worthy of promotion.

Analgesic Effect of Auricular Point Acupressure for Acute Pain in Patients with Dementia: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Common and frequent as acute pain is, it is often underestimated and undertreated in older people with dementia in nursing homes and inadequate pain management remains an issue. Methods: The study is designed to be a randomized, sham-controlled trial and is underway in nursing homes located in China. A total of 206 dementia patients are being recruited from nursing homes in Yinchuan, China. They are randomly allocated to an intervention or a controlled group in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group will be treated with true APP therapy, while the other group will receive APP at sham points stimulation therapy. The patients will be assessed at baseline (T0), at 5 min during performing the intervention (T1) and at 5 min after completion of the intervention (T2). The primary outcome is the level pain relief at T1, and T2. Physiological parameters, side effects and additional use of analgesics during the procedure, satisfaction from caregivers, acceptance of patients are evaluated as secondary outcomes. Discussion: The results of this study are expected to verify the analgesic effect of APP for acute pain in patients with mild dementia in nursing homes. It has the potential to prompt APP therapy to be implemented widely in dementia patients with acute pain in nursing homes. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100047932. http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid= 128647&htm=4. Registered on June 27, 2021. Currently, patients recruitment is ongoing. Recruitment is expected to take place from December 2020 to December 2021.