The effect of auriculotherapy on improving sleep quality in postmenopausal women aged 45‑60 years: A clinical trial study
Volume 12, Issue 11, December 2022, Pages 1-8
. Mona Eidani, . Simin Montazeri, . Parvaneh Mousavi, . Mohammad Hosein Haghighizadeh, . Mahboubeh Valiani
Abstract BACKGROUND: Menopause is one of the developmental stages of women. One of the most common
problems during this period is sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can affect the quality of life of these
people. To improve sleep disorders, auriculotherapy has received less attention due to its low cost
and effectiveness, and side effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of
auriculotherapy on improving sleep quality in postmenopausal women aged 45–60 years.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a clinical trial study that was performed on
82 postmenopausal women aged 45–60 years under the auspices of health centers in Mahshahr
city, Iran from 2021–2022. Women with inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups
(intervention and control). The intervention group underwent auriculotherapy for 4 weeks. The St.
Petersburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire was completed by both groups at the beginning and 4 weeks
after the start of the intervention. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 and
independent t‑test, paired t‑test and Chi‑square test.
RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic
variables. The results of data analysis using independent t‑test showed that before the intervention,
mental quality (P = 0.513), length of incubation period (P = 0.285), sleep duration (P = 0.121), sleep
efficiency (P=0.513), sleep disorders (P=0.685), use of sleeping pills (P=0.530), daily functioning(P=0.60),
and overall sleep quality score (P = 0.30) in the control and intervention groups were not statistically
significant.However, comparing the mean scores afterthe interventionin the control and interventiongroups
showed that mental quality (P < 0.001), incubation period (P < 0.001), sleep duration (P < 0.001), sleep
efficiency (P < 0.001), sleep disorders (P < 0.001), use of hypnotics (P=0.002), daily functioning (P=0.001),
overall sleep quality score (P < 0.001), sleep duration (P = 0.822), sleep efficiency (P = 0.889), sleep
disorders (P = 0.889), use of sleeping pills (P = 1.00), daily performance (P = 0.767), overall sleep quality
score (P = 0.69) were statistically significant between the two groups. In‑group comparison using paired
t‑test in the control group showed that mental quality (P = 0128), length of the incubation period (P = 1.00),
and before and afterthe intervention did not differ significantly in the mean scores. However, a within‑group
comparison in the intervention group showed that mental quality (P < 0.001), incubation period (P < 0.001),
sleep duration (P < 0.001), sleep efficiency (P < 0.001), sleep disorders (P = 0.003), use of sleeping
pills (P = 0.007), daily functioning (P < 0.001), and overall sleep quality score (P < 0.001) before and after
the intervention had a significant difference in the mean scores.
CONCLUSION: The results showed that auriculotherapy has significant effectiveness in improving the
quality of sleep, and its dimensions and can be used as an effective method in this area that can be
implemented at a low cost and easily. According to reports from participants and previous studies in this
field, auriculotherapy did not have any side effects and can be used as a safe way to improve sleep quality.