Credibility of a Newly Developed Sham Needle.
10.3777/jjsam.50.111
- VernacularTitle:新しい開発した偽しんとその信頼性
- Author:
Jongbae Park
;
Adrian White
;
Hyejung Lee
;
Hitoshi Yamashita
;
Edzard Ernst
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Acupuncture;
sham needle;
placebo;
clinical trial
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2000;50(1):111-114
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Objective : To develop a sham needle, which is applicable to clinical trials on acupuncture and test its credibility.
Methods : The Park Sham Needle' unit was developed. The apparatus consists of a blunt needle, the shaft of which telescopes into the handle when tapped, so that while the needle appears to have been inserted, it does not actually pierce the skin, and a Park Tube' that is composed of a standard guide tube and an oversize guide tube with a plastic flange at one end which adheres to the skin with double-sided sticky tape. The needle is held in place by the Park Tube. In a credibility test, 56 subjects received our new sham needle on the left LI-4 acupoint and were asked whether or not they felt the needle being inserted into the skin.
Results : Forty-six subjects (82%) were convinced that they received real needle insertion.
Conclusion : Park Sham Needle seems to be applicable to randomised, subject-blinded, and controlled trials on acupuncture.