Assessing the adequacy of acupuncture in clinical trials: current status and suggestions.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.03.001
- Author:
Wei-Juan GANG
1
;
Xing MENG
1
;
Xiang-Hong JING
1
Author Information
1. Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acupuncture regimen;
adequacy;
assessment;
clinical trial
- MeSH:
Acupuncture Therapy;
Clinical Trials as Topic;
Placebo Effect
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2019;39(3):229-233
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
In recent years, some large rigorous acupuncture randomized controlled trials (RCTs) frequently draw the conclusion that the therapeutic effects of acupuncture is equivalent to placebo effect, which has aroused wide attention and controversy. Thus, some studies attempted to assess the adequacy of acupuncture regimen in clinical trials. In this study, the concept of acupuncture regimen adequacy in clinical trials is clarified and the research status and limitations are summarized. Moreover, the suggestions in the future researches are proposed in association with clinical practice characteristics of acupuncture, i.e. classifying assessment according to different types of acupuncture; conducting the assessment according to the treatment characteristics of different types of acupuncture; assessing the maturity of acupuncture regimens; evaluating the rationality of the control group according to the purpose of the study; and focusing on domains evaluation.
