Effect of auricular point acupressure combined with three-step analgesic therapy on cancer pain

Abstract

Introduction/Objective The objective was to evaluate the effect of auricular point pressing with beans combined with three-step analgesic therapy on cancer pain.

Methods Sixty patients with cancer admitted to the Ganzhou Cancer Hospital from January to December 2021 were selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The control group received three-step pain relief and routine care, while the experimental group was treated with auricular point acupressure combined with three-step analgesic therapy. The pain intensity was assessed by a numerical rating scale (NRS) at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment, and the incidence of adverse reactions was recorded.

Results The NRS score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group (Ftreatment = 105.521, p = 0.001). The difference in NRS scores before and 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment was statistically significant (Ftime = 335.521, p = 0.001). The number of eruption pain cases in the experimental group and the control group was found to be statistically significant (χ2 = 10.767, p = 0.001), and the occurrence of eruption pain in the control group was more severe than that in the experimental group (Z = −4.472, p = 0.001). The incidence of adverse reactions in the experimental and control groups was 3.33% and 30%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 12.738, p = 0.001).

Conclusion The combination of auricular point pressing and three-step ladder analgesic therapy can significantly improve the pain of cancer patients.

Keywords: cancer pain; pain relief; auricular point pressing; three-step analgesic therapy