Auricular Acupoint Therapy in Symptom Management of Cancer patients: A Scoping Review.

Background: The incidence of cancer is rising annually. With advances in diagnosis and treatment, cancer patients' long-term survival rates have improved, leading them to gradually enter a chronic disease state. However, they frequently experience physiological and psychological symptoms during treatment, which severely impact their survival and quality of life. Auricular acupoint therapy, a green non-pharmacological intervention characterized by ease of operation and low cost, can alleviate cancer-related symptoms. Despite its widespread use, systematic summarization and comprehensive evaluation of this therapy remain insufficient. Objective: To systematically analyze the application of auricular therapy in cancer patients, identify its characteristics and intervention effects on symptoms, and provide a reference for symptom management in these patients. Methods: Relevant studies were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Database, and VIP Database from their inception to April 20, 2025. Data from the included literature were extracted and analyzed. Results: A total of 42 studies were included. Auricular therapy is applicable across multiple stages of cancer care and exerts positive effects on cancer-related pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety, and chemotherapy-induced symptoms. Notably, the pain-fatigue-sleep disorder cluster is the most common and interrelated symptom group, with auricular acupressure as the most frequently used intervention. Conclusion: Owing to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, auricular therapy offers unique advantages for managing symptoms in cancer patients. The current focus in this field has shifted from managing single symptoms or individual dimensions within symptom clusters to a comprehensive management of symptom clusters. Future research should pay attention to the dynamic progression of symptoms, focus on the core symptom clusters in cancer patients, and optimize intervention strategies to enhance the efficiency of symptom management.