The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
-
J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2012
Multicenter StudyThe ADDOPT study (Acupuncture to Decrease Disparities in Outcomes of Pain Treatment): feasibility of offering acupuncture in the community health center setting.
This article describes the feasibility and acceptability of the Acupuncture to Decrease Disparities in Outcomes of Pain Treatment (ADDOPT) trial, which incorporates acupuncture as an adjunct to usual treatment for chronic pain in urban health centers. ⋯ Clinicians in this urban setting have incorporated acupuncture into chronic pain management. Despite disability and lack of familiarity, patients initiate acupuncture and show high levels of engagement with treatment.
-
J Altern Complement Med · Jul 2011
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyMindfulness and psychologic well-being: are they related to type of meditation technique practiced?
This study examined whether practitioners of two meditation types differ on self-reported mindfulness skills and psychologic well-being. ⋯ The results suggest that self-reported mindfulness and psychologic well-being may be associated with meditation frequency rather than any potential differences when comparing MM and TM in this study. Note that substantial differences between MM and TM groups were present on basic demographics, which were controlled statistically.
-
J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical TrialInterventions and physician characteristics in a randomized multicenter trial of acupuncture in patients with low-back pain.
Descriptions of the interventions used in acupuncture studies are often incomplete. The aim of this paper is to describe participating trial physicians and interventions in a randomised trial of acupuncture for low back pain. ⋯ For most trial physicians, the semistandardized acupuncture strategy used in this trial was an acceptable compromise for an efficacy study. However, a relevant minority of participating trial physicians stated that they would have treated patients differently outside of the trial.
-
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.
-
J Altern Complement Med · Apr 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialSafety and efficacy of a traditional herbal medicine (Throat Coat) in symptomatic temporary relief of pain in patients with acute pharyngitis: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
To investigate the safety and efficacy of Throat Coat) (Traditional Medicinals,) Sebastopol, CA), a traditional demulcent herbal tea, in comparison with a placebo tea in the symptomatic treatment of acute pharyngitis. ⋯ Compared to placebo, intensity of throat pain when swallowing was significantly reduced by Throat Coat in intention to treat and valid for efficacy analysis (VEA). Significant differences in change from baseline pain were observed at 5 min (p = 0.007), 10 min (p = 0.005), 15 minutes (p = 0.01), 20 minutes (p = 0.05), and 30 minutes (p = 0.04) after completion of the first dose (VEA analysis). There was a statistically significant improvement of SPID in the Throat Coat-treated group: Least square means +/- standard error of the means (SEM) of SPID were -16.5 +/- 13.9 in the placebo group and -43.8 +/- 11.9 in the Throat Coat-treated group (p = 0.012). TOTPAR was also significantly higher in the Throat Coat-treated group: Least square means +/- SEM of TOTPAR were 32.4 +/- 12.8 in the placebo group and 53.6 +/- 10.9 in the Throat Coat-treated group (p = 0.031). This study shows that Throat Coat is significantly superior to placebo and provided a rapid, temporary relief of sore throat pain in patients with pharyngitis.