Evaluating the Auricular Point Acupressure-Self Management Program for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Among Rural Populations

Recruiting

A Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial of a Auricular Point Acupressure - Self-Management (APA-SM) Program for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Among Rural Populations.

Who can join

Ages 18 to 85 · All sexes

Full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Receive any pain management for CMP (neck, back, shoulder, hands, hips, knees, feet)
* Have CMP ≥ 4 on a scale of 0-10 that has persisted for at least 3 months or has resulted in pain on at least half the days in the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe ear skin disorder (Diagnosed with conditions e.g., eczema, lupus with skin involvement) which often require medical intervention and severe allergy to tape
* Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent
* Use of some type of hearing aid where size may obstruct seed placement
* Not living in rural area

About the study

The investigators will test an Auricular Point Acupressure Self-Management (APA-SM) program integrated into rural primary and specialty care and rural communities for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). To maximize self-management of pain, the investigators developed a smartphone app which will allow the participants to learn to self-administer APA. The investigators will have 3 arms (APA-SM self-guided with remote training, APA-SM with in-person training, and Education Control) with 231 participants per arm (total=693 for 3 arms). The investigators will evaluate the clinical effectiveness of our 4-week APA-SM intervention compared to control in primary outcomes (pain intensity, pain interference, activity), secondary outcomes (HEAL Clinical Pain Core common data elements), and analgesic use up to 6 months follow-up.

What is being tested

Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) - Self Management (SM) (behavioral)
Education Control (behavioral)

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston · Participants: 693 · Started: Sep 11, 2025

Contact the study team

Jennifer Kawi, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAAN · Phone: 713-500-2293
Jungkyung Min, PhD, MS, RN · Phone: 979-450-2091

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07179016

Locations in the U.S.

South Carolina	University of South Carolina, Columbia
Texas	University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth (Not yet recruiting) The University of Texas Health science Center at Houston, Houston (Not yet recruiting)

Conditions

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.