Key result
Acupoint stimulation significantly improved smoking cessation rates at immediate follow-up (effect size 1.24; 95% CI 1.07-1.43; p=0.003), as well as at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.
Why the study?
Does acupoint stimulation improve smoking cessation rates and reduce daily cigarette consumption in smokers?
Meta-Analysis
Does acupoint stimulation improve smoking cessation rates and reduce daily cigarette consumption in smokers?
Effect estimate: Effect size 1.24 (95% CI 1.07-1.43)
p-value: p=0.003
Acupoint stimulation, especially when combined with education or other interventions, significantly improves smoking cessation rates up to 6 months.
Supports acupoint stimulation as adjunct for smoking cessation; extends Level 1 evidence for integrative cardiovascular risk reduction.
Smoking represents a serious worldwide public health problem because of its close association with the development of chronic disease and cancer. Acupoint stimulation has been used as treatment mode for smoking cessation but its efficacy remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of acupoint stimulation on smoking cessation rate and daily cigarette consumption. Electronic literature searches in eight electronic databases up to March 2011 were performed to identify acupoint stimulation for smoking cessation. The outcomes assessed were smoking cessation rate and cigarette consumption. We assessed abstinence from smoking at the earliest and last measured time points, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Meta-analysis was performed using CMA software. A total of 20 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. A significant effect of acupoint stimulation was found in smoking cessation rates and cigarette consumption at immediate, 3- and 6-month follow-ups, with effect sizes 1.24 (95%CI = 1.07 ~ 1.43, p = 0.003), -2.49 (95%CI = -4.65 ~ -0.34, p = 0.02), 1.70 (95%CI = 1.17 ~ 2.46, p = 0.01), and 1.79 (95%CI = 1.13 ~ 2.82, p = 0.01), respectively. Multi-modality treatments, especially acupuncture combined with smoking cessation education or other interventions, can help smokers to eschew smoking during treatment, and to avoid relapse after treatment.
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Cheng et al. (2012) conducted a meta-analysis in Smoking. Acupoint stimulation was evaluated on Smoking cessation rate at immediate follow-up (Effect size 1.24, 95% CI 1.07-1.43, p=0.003). Acupoint stimulation significantly improved smoking cessation rates at immediate follow-up (effect size 1.24; 95% CI 1.07-1.43; p=0.003), as well as at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.
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