Assessments of different kinds of sham acupuncture applied in randomized controlled trials
Item
Title
Assessments of different kinds of sham acupuncture applied in randomized controlled trials
Description
J Acupunct Tuina Sci (2011), Yongliang, Jiang; Leimiao, Yin; Yu, Wang; Chunxiao, Shan; Yanyan, Liu; Yudong, Xu; Ying, Wei; Jun, Ran; Xiaoyan, Liu; Yongqing, Yang.
Abstract
Objective: Different kinds of sham acupuncture are widely applied in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to explore whether acupuncture has intrinsic therapeutic effects beyond the placebo effects for certain indication. To make conclusions of trials more comparable and convincing, it is of great necessity to unify the sham acupuncture procedure. Methods: RCTs of acupuncture with high quality in the recent 14 years were reviewed, and the appropriateness of the sham acupuncture procedures was assessed. Results: The sham acupuncture procedures were mainly classified into five kinds according to their administered sites, penetrating, and intervention apparatus. Conclusion: Among the sham acupuncture procedures, needling near the selected acupoints, needling at a distant non-acupoints, and non-penetrating sham acupuncture are most commonly used. Sham acupuncture performed at distant site belongs to non-meridian and non-acupoint may be an ideal control for the study of the intrinsic therapeutic effects of acupuncture. Besides, the selection of controls must focus on the design and aim of RCTs, such as non-inferiority, equivalence and superiority trials.
Alternative Title
J Acupunct Tuina Sci
Creator
Date
Language
English
doi
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-011-0511-7
issn
1672-3597
issue
4
page end
203
page start
199
volume
9