Application of auriculotherapy in cancer-related fatigue symptom cluster: a scoping review

To systematically review the intervention content and efficacy of auriculotherapy in alleviating cancer-related fatigue symptom clusters, analyze its current application status and existing limitations, and provide references for clinical practice and future research.

A scoping review was adopted. Systematic searches were conducted in databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and CINAHL. The search period spanned from the inception of each database to May 15, 2025. Relevant data from the included studies were extracted and analyzed.

Fourteen studies with a total sample size of 1208 participants were ultimately included. The interventions primarily targeted the pain-fatigue-sleep disturbance symptom cluster and the fatigue-anxiety symptom cluster. Auricular acupressure was the most common intervention, with an average of five to 12 auricular points selected. Shenmen, subcortex, and sympathetic were the top three most frequently used auricular points. The intervention durations ranged from 3 days to 8 weeks, with frequencies of intervention of three to six times per day. The common intervention methods included auricular acupressure, auricular acupuncture, and auricular laser therapy.

Auriculotherapy is simple to operate, low in cost, and highly safe and was associated with potential benefits in the management of cancer-related fatigue symptom clusters, though intervention protocols varied widely. However, the current intervention protocols are not standardized, and there is a lack of unified symptom cluster assessment tools. Future research should standardize the intervention protocols and optimize the evaluation tools and auricular intervention regimens, so as to further enhance the clinical value of auriculotherapy in the management of cancer-related fatigue symptom clusters.