National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

NIH Collaboratory Adds APA-SM Trial to Evaluate Acupressure for Chronic Pain Management

- The NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory welcomes the APA-SM trial, focusing on personalized auricular point acupressure for chronic pain self-management in rural areas. - The APA-SM trial will conduct a pragmatic study of a 4-week auricular point acupressure intervention in rural Texas and South Carolina. - Primary outcomes include pain intensity, pain interference, and function, with secondary outcomes assessing implementation, cost-effectiveness, and predictive factors. - Funded by the NIH HEAL Initiative, APA-SM aims to reduce opioid prescribing through effective pain management strategies.