Efficacy of auriculotherapy for the reduction of stress in nursing students: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

This study is a randomized single-blind trial, which aimed to evaluate the efficacy of true auriculotherapy and placebo auriculotherapy in reducing the stress levels of mid-level Nursing students of the School of Nursing of the Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital. Seventyone students with average, high and very high scores, according to Vasconcellos' List of Stress Symptoms, were divided into three groups: Control (25), Auriculotherapy (24), and Placebo/Sham (22). They were evaluated at the baseline, 8th and 12th sessions and at the follow-up (15 days) and received Shen Men and Brainstem points (Auriculotherapy Group) and Wrist and Outer Ear points (Placebo/Sham Group). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant differences between the Control/Auriculotherapy groups from the 8th session, which was maintained in the third and fourth evaluations (p=0.000) and between the Control/Placebo groups (p<0.05) at the three evaluations. It was concluded that the true auriculotherapy obtained better responses (45.39%) than the placebo (34.18%) in the reduction of the stress, but further studies are recommended for the re-evaluation of the sham points for stress. ClinicalTrials. Eficacia de la auriculoterapia para la disminución del estrés en estudiantes de enfermería: ensayo clínico aleatorioEste ensayo clínico aleatorio simple-ciego tuvo el objetivo de evaluar la eficacia de la auriculoterapia verdadera y auriculoterapia placebo en la disminución del estrés de los En la ANOVA se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre os grupos de Control/Auriculoterapia en las 3 evaluaciones (P=0,000) y entre Control/Placebo (P<0,05). Se concluyó que la auriculoterapia obtuvo mejor respuesta (45,39%) que el placebo (34,18%) en reducir el estrés. Se recomiendan más estudios para la reevaluación de los puntos sham de estrés. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01420848.

Avaliação do apoio social e estresse em estudantes de enfermagem

“…In summary, the focus of this research was stress among nursing students, based on the understanding that this type of study contributes to the planning of strategies for mental health promotion in student daily life. Previous studies pointed out effective strategies to minimize stress and improve the well-being of students, such as Mindfulness (15)(16) , the biofeedback method (17) , and auriculotherapy (18) . However, this study advanced in the sense of making explicit that the coping resources such as social support have different effects on each type of stressor and that this should be considered in the planning of actions to promote mental health.…”

“…Regarding the knowledge produced concerning stress among nursing students, two study perspectives were identified in the literature: the first refers to the investigation of potentially stressor factors/elements in daily life and the implications for the mental health of these subjects (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) , while the second branch composes the coping strategies for maintaining the well-being in the university context (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) .…”

“…Given these premises, there is a need for emotional and behavioral adaptations for coping with such stressors so to maintain satisfactory levels of well-being and quality of life throughout the undergraduate course and the professional life. In this sense, the second branch of studies has been exploring the coping responses used by the students to alleviate stress (10)(11)(12)(13)(14) , and performing interventions with the purpose of attenuating their psychic suffering (15)(16)(17)(18) .…”

Use of Nada Ear Acupuncture in An Adolescent Patient with Phantom Limb Pain after Surgery for Osteosarcoma

“…[8][9][10][11] In our case, a massive impairment in physical status occurred at a period of her life when physical health is naturally assumed and important in the context of the physical and emotional changes of adolescence. This can generate profound mental, emotional and physical stress.…”

Quality of life and welfare of nursing university students: integrative review / Qualidade de vida e bem-estar dos estudantes universitários de enfermagem: revisão integrativa / Calidad de vida y bienestar de los estudiantes de enfermería...

“…Estes fatores estressores podem ocasionar desordens psicológicas e físicas (fadiga, ansiedade e cansaço), afetando a vida acadêmica e em consequência o futuro profissional, pois há comprometimento do cotidiano do aluno. Sendo as alterações de saúde: depressão, ansiedade, estresse, aumento do sentimento raiva, angústia, desespero, mau humor, má qualidade do sono, uso de álcool, cansaço e fadiga (11)(12)(13)(14)16,(18)(19)(20)26,28,(29)(30)(31)(32)(33) , descritas como transitórias e de fácil superação pelos estudantes investigados.…”