Introducing a placebo needle into acupuncture research
Introducing a placebo needle into acupuncture research
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DOI：
10.1016/s0140-6736(97)10471-8
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发表时间：
1998-08-01
期刊：
影响因子：
168.9
通讯作者：
Kleinhenz, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Streitberger, K;Kleinhenz, J
背景针灸研究必须面对的一个问题是对照组的概念。在对照组中，如果进行非穴位针刺，则暗示了生理针灸效应。因此，本组显示的效果往往与针刺组的效果接近。在其他试验中，对照组接受了明显不同的治疗，如经皮神经电刺激或TENS激光治疗；尚不清楚针灸的效果是否仅源于治疗的心理影响。方法我们研制了一种安慰剂针刺针，它应该可以在不穿透胫骨的情况下模拟针灸过程。在一项有60名志愿者参加的交叉实验中，我们测试了用安慰剂针刺的感觉是否与真正的针灸有什么不同。在60名志愿者中，54人感觉到了针灸的渗透(平均视觉模拟评分[VAS]13.4；SD 10.58)，47人感觉到了穿透(VAS 8.86；SD 10.55)，34人感觉到了隐隐的痛感(德奇)，13人感觉到了安慰剂。没有一名志愿者怀疑针可能没有穿透皮肤。解释说，安慰剂针足够可信，可以用于研究针灸的效果。
Background A problem acupuncture research has to face is the concept of a control group. If, in control groups, non-acupoint needling is done, physiological acupuncture effects are implied. Therefore the effects shown in this group are often close to those shown in the acupuncture group. In other trials, control groups have received obviously different treatments, such as transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation or TENS-laser treatment; it is not clear if the effects of acupuncture are due only to the psychological effects of the treatment.Methods We developed a placebo acupuncture needle, with which it should be possible to simulate an acupuncture procedure without penetrating the shin. In a cross-over experiment with 60 volunteers we tested whether needling with the placebo needle feels any different from real acupuncture.Findings Of 60 volunteers, 54 felt a penetration with acupuncture (mean visual analogue scale [VAS] 13.4; SD 10.58) and 47 felt it with placebo (VAS 8.86; SD 10.55), 34 felt a dull pain sensation (DEQI) with acupuncture and 13 with placebo. None of the volunteers suspected that the needle may not have penetrated the skin.Interpretation The placebo needle is sufficiently credible to be used in investigations of the effects of acupuncture.