METHODS Subject Recruitment, Study Sample,

This study examined the effect of acupuncture alone and in combination with education on smoking cessation and cigarette consumption. Methods. We prospectively studied 141 adults in a quasi-factorial design using acu-puncture, sham acupuncture, and education. Results. All groups showed significant reductions in smoking and posttreatment cig-arette consumption, with the combined acupuncture–education group showing the great-est effect from treatment. The trend continued in follow-up; however, significant differ-ences were not maintained. Greater pack-year history (i.e. the number of years smoking multiplied by baseline number of cigarettes smoked per year, divided by 20 cigarettes per pack) negatively correlated with treatment effect. Trend analysis suggested 20 pack-years as the cutoff point for this correlation. Conclusions. Acupuncture and education, alone and in combination, significantly re-duce smoking; however, combined they show a significantly greater effect, as seen in subjects with a greater pack-year history. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1642–1647) perienced acupuncturists; and biochemical validation of smoking cessation. Our study improves on previous work in the field by using a more rigorous research design that addresses all but the final concern