The Effect of Auriculotherapy on Situational Anxiety Trigged by Examinations: A Randomized Pilot Trial.
Journal article
Vieira, Andreia, Sousa, Paula, Moura, A., Lopes, L., Silva, Cristiane, Robinson, N., Machado, J. and Moreira, A. (2022). The Effect of Auriculotherapy on Situational Anxiety Trigged by Examinations: A Randomized Pilot Trial. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland). 10 (10), p. 1816. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101816
Authors | Vieira, Andreia, Sousa, Paula, Moura, A., Lopes, L., Silva, Cristiane, Robinson, N., Machado, J. and Moreira, A. |
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Abstract | Auriculotherapy may activate the parasympathetic nerve system and reduce anxiety levels. Short-term auriculotherapy's effects and safety on university students' anxiety levels was assessed prior to exams. Methods A randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted. The day before the exam, university students were randomly allocated to the auriculotherapy group (AA, <i>n</i> = 13) or the waiting-list group (WG, <i>n</i> = 13). Baseline measures were taken 4 weeks before the exam at Time point (TP 0); at 7.30 a.m. on the day before the exam (TP I); at 11 a.m. before auriculotherapy (TP II); 30 min after AA (TP III); and at 7.30 a.m. before the exam (TP IV). The outcomes were the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI); quality of night-sleep, Visual Analogue scale (VAS) for anxiety, and salivary cortisol. Adverse events were also recorded.Results A total of 26 students participated in this study and became more anxious as assessed by STAI in TPII (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and TPIV (<i>p</i> = 0.000) than TP0. AA reduced the STAI in TPIII (<i>p</i> = 0.045) and PIV (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and the VAS (<i>p</i> = 0.012) in TPIV. Cortisol was reduced in TPIII (<i>p</i> = 0.004), and the AA slept better (<i>p</i> = 0.014) at TPIV. Discomfort at the auricular site was reported in only one AA participant.Conclusions Auriculotherapy appeared safe and effective in reducing anxiety levels before university exams. |
Keywords | Anxiety; Randomized controlled trial; Parasympathetic nervous system; Salivary Cortisol; Brain Modulation; Acupressure; Auriculotherapy; Auricular Points |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) |
Journal citation | 10 (10), p. 1816 |
Publisher | MDPI |
ISSN | 2227-9032 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101816 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 21 Sep 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 15 Sep 2022 |
Deposited | 28 Nov 2022 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
License | CC BY |
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https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/92qv5
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