{"title":"Proposing a novel research method for acupoint selection","authors":"Nick Lowe, Spod Dutton","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2024.102372","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Acupoint selection in both clinical trials and practice is predominantly informed by traditional theory and experience rather than clinical or mechanistic research. In-clinic acupoint testing methods are used by some practitioners to help determine acupoint selection based on patient feedback, but to date no quantitative data on these approaches has been published. This paper reports preliminary data where an acupoint testing method was utilised to help inform acupoint selection. These results were then used to develop a theoretical framework to validate the acupoint testing approach as a novel research method.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Preliminary data on the acupoint testing method was collected as part of a routine clinic audit from a single private practice in the UK using an electronic health record (EHR) and included; patient clinical demographic data, health complaints categorised according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) codes and patient outcomes using a Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale. The acupoint testing method used acupressure and/or acupuncture on acupoints to establish whether there was an immediate positive therapeutic effect for a patient for either; i) local areas of pain, ii) restricted/painful range of movements (ROM) and/or iii) acute symptoms related to a patients’ health complaint.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 506 acupoint tests were recorded from 398 treatments delivered to 74 patients (63.5% female, 36.5% male, mean age 58 years) presenting with predominantly chronic (77.1%) musculoskeletal (65.7%) issues. Tests were recorded for 61/74 (82.4%) patients and the mean number of tests per patient was 8.3. The majority of test results were positive (78.5%). For most patients at least one positive and negative test was recorded (52.5%). Solely positive tests were recorded for 44.3% of patients and soley negative tests were recorded for 3.3% of patients. The mixture of positive and negative test results suggests acupoint specificity may be clinically relevant.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Preliminary data suggests the testing method was versatile and useful for informing acupoint selection in clinical practice. Further research is required to establish its validity and reliability. The acupoint testing approach may represent a valuable new research method to help inform acupoint selection for both clinical trials and practice.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 102372"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382024000428","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Acupoint selection in both clinical trials and practice is predominantly informed by traditional theory and experience rather than clinical or mechanistic research. In-clinic acupoint testing methods are used by some practitioners to help determine acupoint selection based on patient feedback, but to date no quantitative data on these approaches has been published. This paper reports preliminary data where an acupoint testing method was utilised to help inform acupoint selection. These results were then used to develop a theoretical framework to validate the acupoint testing approach as a novel research method.
Methods
Preliminary data on the acupoint testing method was collected as part of a routine clinic audit from a single private practice in the UK using an electronic health record (EHR) and included; patient clinical demographic data, health complaints categorised according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) codes and patient outcomes using a Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale. The acupoint testing method used acupressure and/or acupuncture on acupoints to establish whether there was an immediate positive therapeutic effect for a patient for either; i) local areas of pain, ii) restricted/painful range of movements (ROM) and/or iii) acute symptoms related to a patients’ health complaint.
Results
A total of 506 acupoint tests were recorded from 398 treatments delivered to 74 patients (63.5% female, 36.5% male, mean age 58 years) presenting with predominantly chronic (77.1%) musculoskeletal (65.7%) issues. Tests were recorded for 61/74 (82.4%) patients and the mean number of tests per patient was 8.3. The majority of test results were positive (78.5%). For most patients at least one positive and negative test was recorded (52.5%). Solely positive tests were recorded for 44.3% of patients and soley negative tests were recorded for 3.3% of patients. The mixture of positive and negative test results suggests acupoint specificity may be clinically relevant.
Conclusion
Preliminary data suggests the testing method was versatile and useful for informing acupoint selection in clinical practice. Further research is required to establish its validity and reliability. The acupoint testing approach may represent a valuable new research method to help inform acupoint selection for both clinical trials and practice.
期刊介绍:
The European Journal of Integrative Medicine (EuJIM) considers manuscripts from a wide range of complementary and integrative health care disciplines, with a particular focus on whole systems approaches, public health, self management and traditional medical systems. The journal strives to connect conventional medicine and evidence based complementary medicine. We encourage submissions reporting research with relevance for integrative clinical practice and interprofessional education.
EuJIM aims to be of interest to both conventional and integrative audiences, including healthcare practitioners, researchers, health care organisations, educationalists, and all those who seek objective and critical information on integrative medicine. To achieve this aim EuJIM provides an innovative international and interdisciplinary platform linking researchers and clinicians.
The journal focuses primarily on original research articles including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, other clinical studies, qualitative, observational and epidemiological studies. In addition we welcome short reviews, opinion articles and contributions relating to health services and policy, health economics and psychology.