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Nonpharmaceutical Approach to Chronic Pain Management


What is auricular point acupressure?

Auricular point acupressure (APA) is based on the acupuncture microsystem involving the stimulation of standardized points on the ear that correspond to body parts in pain. Nurse scientists at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston are exploring APA as a nonpharmaceutical, self-managed, and cost-effective pain management alternative.

Professor Jennifer Kawi, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAAN, is leading a study to test the effectiveness of APA, leveraging technology with a smartphone app, that enables patients in rural communities to self-administer auricular point acupressure. Learn more about the study.

Join our study

We are currently recruiting patients and health professionals in rural areas for the first phases of the grant.

Cizik School of Nursing is seeking participants interested in helping refine an evidence-based program for chronic musculoskeletal pain (such as back pain, neck pain, and joint pains).

 

What you need to know about APA:

  • Based on evidence for managing pain and function
  • No known adverse effects or interaction with other treatments
  • Additional tool for successful pain management
  • Accessible anytime
  • Cost effective
  • Noninvasive – no needles, no injections
  • No pills

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Eligibility:

You may be eligible if you are 18-85 years of age, are living or engaged in a rural area of Texas or South Carolina, and are one of the following:

  • A primary care provider
  • Specialty pain care provider
  • Clinic staff or administrator
  • An individual with chronic musculoskeletal pain and their family/significant other

We ask participants to commit 1-2 weeks to this rural community engagement study. The research is provided at no cost. Eligible participants will be compensated for participating in the research study. 

If you are interested in learning more about our research study, please call us at 713-500-2214 or email [email protected].

The study, “Personalized Auricular Point Acupressure for Chronic Pain Self-Management in Rural Populations,” (UG3AT012728) is funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The award is part of the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® (HEAL) Initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).