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. 2022 Aug 29;2022:8079691. doi: 10.1155/2022/8079691

Table 3.

Examples of participant responses reflecting study themes.

vAPA is feasible
(i) Several participant sample responses are reflected in Table 1 reflecting acceptability, usability, practicality, and perceived benefits.

Better control of pain
(i) Being able to press the seeds when pain recurs is very convenient for me, because I can easily take care of my pain even when I am working without having to stop and take medication. I feel that it helps me stay positive and confident that I can manage my own pain without having to rely on meds.
(ii) Feel better control over pain especially when overdoing and gets a lot of pain, I press the seeds and get relief especially when pain is aggravated.
(iii) Better control, can press [ear points] anytime.
(iv) Have more control of pain, press the seeds when in pain and pain improves.
(v) Feel better control over pain though just realized recently that can press more if needed for pain, able to get it down with pressing the seeds.
(vi) Better control of tingling by pressing points.
(vii) Wake up from pain then press the seeds and then able to fall asleep.

Less use of pain medications
(i) I am using less pain medication. Usually takes aspirin, tramadol and muscle relaxant as needed. Only needed to take 1 muscle relaxant during the trial.
(ii) I still use tylenol but less.
(iii) Used to take ibuprofen but has not used any at all since APA.
(iv) Needed less ibuprofen.
(v) Most of the time I have not needed to take any pain medication.
(vi) Don't usually take meds but took tylenol 3000 mg in the past and ice packs, have not had to do these.
(vii) Reduced use of pain medications like ibuprofen, lidocaine, and less use of other natural remedies like CBD oil, massage, epsom salts.
(viii) Has not been to a provider for pain.

Self-management and motivation in pain
(i) Self-motivation is important, pain should be enough motivation, do not see anything else that could be done better to motivate [to do APA].
(ii) Motivation is a personal thing; the seeds have a positive effect.
(iii) I believe this treatment is self-motivating if the patient has faith in it and finds that it helps.
(iv) Pain relief was motivation enough.
(v) This is a really good way not to use drugs.
(vi) Since I am trying to avoid using pain medication and my pain comes and goes, the treatment is an alternative choice to manage my pain.
(vii) To avoid surgery, I can use APA to manage pain.

Expectations for pain relief
(i) Expect to get pain down to 3 or 4 from 8, she was getting this pain relief with the APA.
(ii) Pain is 4-5 average, do not want to be on the medication forever so this [APA] keeps mind off it; even a decrease to 2-3 pain is ok.
(iii) 1 point drop is ok, immediate effect is better but realistic that it will take a while.
(iv) Just a decrease of 1-2 points help, takes the edge off when seeds are pressed, couple hours relief and takes a little time for pain relief, about 15–30 minutes.
(v) Pain down to 2 and 3 is ok. Current average pain is 3–5 and if goes down to 2-3, this is my minimal expectation and this is being met.
(vi) Any program that helps the pain is good.