Insufficient evidence for effectiveness of acupuncture for smoking cessation

January 01, 0001

Insufficient evidence for effectiveness of acupuncture for smoking cessation

Clinical Question:How effective are acupuncture and the related interventions of acupressure, laser therapy and electrostimulation in smoking cessation?

Bottom line: There was no bias-free, consistent evidence that acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy or electrostimulation were effective interventions for smoking cessation. There was no evidence that acupuncture was superior to waiting list or psychological interventions in the short term (6 weeks) or long term (6 months to 1 year). The evidence on acupressure and laser stimulation was insufficient and could not be combined. The evidence suggested that electrostimulation was not superior to sham electrostimulation.

Caveat: Lack of evidence and methodological problems meant no firm conclusions could be drawn. There was not enough evidence to dismiss the possibility that acupuncture might have an effect greater than placebo.

Context:Acupuncture is used with the aim of reducing the withdrawal symptoms people experience when they try to quit smoking. Related therapies include acupressure, laser therapy and electrical stimulation.

Cochrane Systematic Review: White AR et al. Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Reviews, 2011, Issue 1. Article No. CD000009. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000009.pub3. This review contains 33 studies involving 6558 participants.

Cochrane PEARLS Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations. No. 301, March 2011.
Written by Brian R McAvoy. Published by the Cochrane Primary Care Group

Category: Z. Social Problems. Keywords: smoking cessation, acupuncture
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 27 May 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care

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Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.