Predictors of a positive response to acupuncture for chronic pain

Researchers in Germany searched the records from almost 10,000 patients for predictors of a positive response.

First, the details.

• 9,990 patients with chronic low back pain, headache, neck pain, or pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, were randomly assigned to a treatment group.
  • Routine care
  • Acupuncture in addition to routine care
• The 3-month change based on the SF-36 bodily pain subscale was recorded.
• Patients’ characteristics and their interaction with treatment were reviewed to determine their effect on treatment outcomes.

And, the results.

• The outcome was significantly improved in the acupuncture group.
• Predictors of outcome in both treatment groups:
  • Age
  • Education
  • Duration of illness
  • Baseline pain
  • Certain concomitant diseases
• Patient characteristics significantly associated with a positive response to the acupuncture effect:
  • Previous positive acupuncture experience
  • Failure of other therapies before the study
  • Living in a multi-person household
  • Female

The bottom line?

The authors come to no definitive conclusions, except to recommend more research.

I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that past experience with acupuncture, frustration due to failed past therapy, and peer pressure to have a positive experience are factors that influence satisfaction with acupuncture in patients with chronic pain.

6/29/11 22:08 JR