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