0392 A Novel Treatment for Sleep and Pain: Auricular Acupuncture

Abstract

Introduction: The use of complementary and alternative or integrative medicine (CAM/IM) has increased in the U.S. in the last 15 years and approximately 1.6 million adults, with or without co‐morbidity, use CAM/IM therapy for insomnia and/or pain. Numerous studies have revealed that acupuncture, the oldest healing practice within the traditional Chinese medicine is effective for various clinical issues. However, very few studies have tested the use of auricular acupuncture (AA), a safe, portable, and an easy‐to‐administer modality, using a standard protocol in patients for improvement in both sleep and chronic pain. Methods: Assessments were conducted over an 8‐day period with daily sleep and pain diaries and actigraphy in a convenience sample of 41 participants with insomnia and chronic pain. On day 4 of the study, participants were randomized to either the AA treatment group (AAG) or the comparison group (CG). Descriptive measures and a mixed model analysis using repeated measures were conducted. Results: 41 out of 97 participants met eligibility and were randomized. Of those 39 completed the study (95% retention rate; 2 dropped prior to randomization). There were no differences in the gender or marital status. Compared to the CG, AAG group in this preliminary data showed significant decrease in ISI score at 3‐day post treatment (AAG=13.0, SD=5.4; CG=15.9, SD=6.1, p