Effect of Laser Auricular Acupuncture in Tobacco Smoking Cessation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study explores laser auricular acupuncture as a potential solution for nicotine dependence, comparing it to conventional counseling. With a death every 6.5 s due to tobacco, the systematic review aims to assess the efficacy of laser acupuncture versus counseling or placebo, offering insights into innovative strategies for combating tobacco addiction.

A systematic search across scientific databases yielded 2537 articles (2000-2021), reduced to 1294 after deduplication. Abstract screening narrowed it down to eight articles; after a full-text assessment based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, four were selected. Inter-rater reliability between coders (Z.A., M.R.K.) was strong at each screening stage, with perfect agreement at the full text (κ = 1.0), abstract (κ = 0.99), and title (κ = 0.89) stages, all with a 95% confidence interval.

In the meta-analysis of two studies on post-intervention nicotine dependence using the Fagerstrom scale, the laser group showed significantly lower scores (p = 0.002, mean difference = -0.60). Examining subjects who failed to quit smoking immediately after therapy, the laser group had 53.8% continuation compared to 83.0% in the comparison group (non-significant difference). At the 3-month mark, the continuation rates were 60.8% for the laser group and 86.6% for the comparison group (non-significant difference).

Potential superiority of laser auricular acupuncture over behavioral counseling in tobacco cessation, with reported safety. However, the limited trials and sample size warrant cautious interpretation. Laser therapy emerges as a promising modality, but further extensive trials, especially in combination with other interventions, are crucial to solidify its efficacy in facilitating successful tobacco cessation.