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The Effect of Auriculotherapy on Situational Anxiety Trigged by Examinations: A Randomized Pilot Trial

Vieira, Andreia, Sousa, Paula, Moura, Alexandra, Lopes, Lara, Silva, Cristiane, Robinson, Nicola, Machado, Jorge, Moreira, António·2022·Healthcare
DOI 10.3390/healthcare10101816
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Abstract

Background: 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, n = 13) or the waiting-list group (WG, n = 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 (p = 0.002) and TPIV (p = 0.000) than TP0. AA reduced the STAI in TPIII (p = 0.045) and PIV (p = 0.001) and the VAS (p = 0.012) in TPIV. Cortisol was reduced in TPIII (p = 0.004), and the AA slept better (p = 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.

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Metadata

Authors
Vieira, A., Sousa, P., Moura, A., Lopes, L., Silva, C., Robinson, N., Machado, J., & Moreira, A.
Affiliations
  • ICBAS, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
  • ESSSM, Superior Health School of Santa Maria, 4049-024 Porto, Portugal
  • LSBA, Institute of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London SE1 0AA, UK
  • ESDRM, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
ORCID
Venue
Healthcare
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2022-09-21
Volume
10
Issue
10
Pages
1816
ISSN
2227-9032
DOI
10.3390/healthcare10101816
Cited by
11
References
5
Language
en
Licence
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: The Effect of Auriculotherapy on Situational Anxiety Trigged by Examinations: A Randomized Pilot Trial. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.3390/healthcare10101816
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Vieira, A., Sousa, P., Moura, A., Lopes, L., Silva, C., Robinson, N., Machado, J., & Moreira, A. (2022). The Effect of Auriculotherapy on Situational Anxiety Trigged by Examinations: A Randomized Pilot Trial. Healthcare. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101816

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