Date of Award
Spring 2020
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Jodi Freeman
Abstract
Introduction: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition that affects newborn infants exposed to opioids in utero. NAS is becoming increasingly more prevalent due to the ongoing opioid epidemic. Current treatment for NAS is primarily morphine or buprenorphine. Even on these treatments, infants with NAS often still have symptoms of withdrawal, requiring high doses of medication and extended hospital stays. Acupuncture therapy has been shown to decrease withdrawal symptoms in adults, so researchers are now looking to use this non-pharmacological treatment on infants with NAS.
Methods: A literature search was performed using Google Scholar, PubMed, and EBSCOhost in November of 2018. Seven articles were chosen based on study design, intervention technique, and sample population. Study design and data were evaluated and compared.
Results: Two studies investigated the use of needle acupuncture, two studies looked into acupressure, one study evaluated laser acupuncture, and one study explored transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation. Of the seven studies, five researched the effects of acupuncture in neonates with NAS, and two evaluated the use in adults with substance use disorder. The studies found some evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture, as well as no evidence of harm to the subjects.
Discussion: Statistically significant evidence was demonstrated in some studies suggesting the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS. However, the studies utilized different types of acupuncture and, different out measurements were used. Furthermore, the study designs are poor for most of the studies with many boasting small sample sizes and not using blinding protocols. Therefore, the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS cannot be validated. No adverse outcomes occurred during the studies, so further research is recommended.
Conclusions: No conclusions can be drawn from the data collected from these studies regarding the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS due to the lack of statistically significant results and poor study designs. No adverse events occurred during these studies, so more research is indicated to elucidate the efficacy and mechanism of action of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS.
Recommended Citation
Thibault, Kali, "Efficacy of adjunct acupuncture (insertive and non-insertive) in the treatment of neonates with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome" (2020). Capstone Showcase. 23.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2020/pa/23
Efficacy of adjunct acupuncture (insertive and non-insertive) in the treatment of neonates with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Introduction: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition that affects newborn infants exposed to opioids in utero. NAS is becoming increasingly more prevalent due to the ongoing opioid epidemic. Current treatment for NAS is primarily morphine or buprenorphine. Even on these treatments, infants with NAS often still have symptoms of withdrawal, requiring high doses of medication and extended hospital stays. Acupuncture therapy has been shown to decrease withdrawal symptoms in adults, so researchers are now looking to use this non-pharmacological treatment on infants with NAS.
Methods: A literature search was performed using Google Scholar, PubMed, and EBSCOhost in November of 2018. Seven articles were chosen based on study design, intervention technique, and sample population. Study design and data were evaluated and compared.
Results: Two studies investigated the use of needle acupuncture, two studies looked into acupressure, one study evaluated laser acupuncture, and one study explored transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation. Of the seven studies, five researched the effects of acupuncture in neonates with NAS, and two evaluated the use in adults with substance use disorder. The studies found some evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture, as well as no evidence of harm to the subjects.
Discussion: Statistically significant evidence was demonstrated in some studies suggesting the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS. However, the studies utilized different types of acupuncture and, different out measurements were used. Furthermore, the study designs are poor for most of the studies with many boasting small sample sizes and not using blinding protocols. Therefore, the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS cannot be validated. No adverse outcomes occurred during the studies, so further research is recommended.
Conclusions: No conclusions can be drawn from the data collected from these studies regarding the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS due to the lack of statistically significant results and poor study designs. No adverse events occurred during these studies, so more research is indicated to elucidate the efficacy and mechanism of action of acupuncture as a treatment for NAS.