Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion with moxa sticks combined with refined nursing care in alleviating pain in individuals with gouty arthritis.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from March 2022 to January 2024, involving 96 patients diagnosed with gouty arthritis who were admitted to our hospital. The participants were randomly assigned to either the observation group (n = 48, treated with moxibustion intervention) or the control group (n = 48). The observation group received moxibustion treatment, while the control group underwent standard Western medical treatment. Both groups received refined nursing care during the intervention. Pain improvement, laboratory indicators, swelling levels, and clinical efficacy of both groups were compared.
Results: The observation group demonstrated significantly lower visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 3- and 7-day postintervention, compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and uric acid (UA) levels and limb swelling were all markedly reduced in the observation group 7 days after treatment (P < 0.05). The observation group also exhibited a higher overall effective rate compared with the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The combination of moxibustion and refined nursing care in the treatment of gouty arthritis provides significant therapeutic benefits, including the reduction of joint swelling, pain, and uric acid levels. This integrated approach may represent an effective strategy for managing gouty arthritis.
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