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Laser acupuncture for adolescent smokers--a randomized double-blind controlled trial
C Yiming1, Z Changxin, W S Ung
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Woodbridge Hospital/Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine
|January 12, 2001
Summary
Laser acupuncture did not significantly improve smoking cessation rates in adolescents. This randomized controlled trial found similar quit rates between laser acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Adolescent smoking remains a significant public health concern.
- Effective smoking cessation interventions for adolescents are crucial.
- Laser acupuncture is explored as a potential non-pharmacological smoking cessation aid.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of laser acupuncture treatment for smoking cessation in adolescent smokers.
- To compare laser acupuncture with sham acupuncture in a randomized controlled trial.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
- 330 adolescent smokers were recruited from a Singaporean smoking cessation clinic.
- Participants were assigned to either laser acupuncture or sham acupuncture (control) groups.
Main Results:
- After four weeks of treatment, smoking cessation rates were 21.9% for laser acupuncture and 21.4% for sham acupuncture.
- At three months post-treatment, cessation rates were 24.8% for laser acupuncture and 26.2% for sham acupuncture.
- No statistically significant difference in smoking cessation rates was observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Laser acupuncture treatment showed no significant benefit over sham acupuncture for adolescent smoking cessation.
- Further research may be needed to explore alternative or adjunctive interventions for adolescent smoking cessation.