The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Oct 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialThe German multicenter, randomized, partially blinded, prospective trial of acupuncture for chronic low-back pain: a preliminary report on the rationale and design of the trial.
The efficacy of acupuncture treatment for chronic low-back pain has not been reliably proven because of a lack of good quality studies, leading to the necessity of developing the German Acupuncture Trial for Chronic Low-Back Pain (GERAC-cLBP) study. ⋯ This trial is a nationwide, multicenter, randomized, prospective, partially blinded study. The primary endpoint is the success rate after 6 months. Success is defined as an improvement of 33% or more of three pain-related items on the Van-Korff Pain Score or an improvement of 12% or more in the disability measured by the Hanover Functional Ability Questionnaire. Assessment of the effectiveness of the blinding of patients to the form of acupuncture they received will be conducted. All clinical endpoints are assessed centrally by blinded independent observers. The sample size, with a total of 1062 patients to be enrolled, is based on power calculations. Independent central randomization, data collection, data processing, and statistical analysis are provided. Success rates will be tested for differences using two-sided Fisher exact tests. In the primary analysis, all tests will be carried out on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle. Secondary analyses will be conducted according to protocol approaches.
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J Altern Complement Med · Oct 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effects of electro-acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on patients with painful osteoarthritic knees: a randomized controlled trial with follow-up evaluation.
To examine the relative effectiveness of electro-acupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in alleviating osteoarthritic (OA)-induced knee pain. ⋯ Both EA and TENS treatments were effective in reducing OA-induced knee pain. EA had the additional advantage of enhancing the TUGT results as opposed to TENS treatment or no treatment, which did not produce such corollary effect.
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This paper describes the reflective practice approach adopted at the University of Westminster School of Integrated Health and shows how critical reflection can be incorporated into the complementary therapies undergraduate curriculum.
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J Altern Complement Med · Oct 2003
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialPsycho-endocrine-immune response to mindfulness-based stress reduction in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus: a quasiexperimental study.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a structured, 8-week, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on perceived stress, mood, endocrine function, immunity, and functional health outcomes in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ⋯ These results provide tentative evidence that MBSR may assist in improving immunity in individuals infected with HIV.
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J Altern Complement Med · Oct 2003
An exploration of clinical teaching using a reflective method with adult students.
This paper explores aspects of clinical teaching in an acupuncture clinic in a university. The intentions of the study were to unearth the personal knowledge that underpins my teaching practice by revealing and illuminating the dissonance between espoused theories of adult education and theories-in-use. In a teaching clinic the complex interactions between the patient, the student and the teacher demand a flexible mix of being simultaneously patient-centered and student-centered, as well as teacher-centered.