RESEARCH METHODOLOGY POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
THURSDAY, 5:30-6:15 PM
Lewith GT, White PJ, Kaptchuk TJ.
Developing a research strategy for acupuncture.
University of Southampton Gl3@soton.ac.uk
This strategic overview revisits some of the basic
assumptions that relate to the clinical evaluation of acupuncture. We
look at the evidence available to estimate both the specific and non-specific
effect size of acupuncture (efficacy and effectiveness) and consider
the placebo within acupuncture trials, as well as the value of both
placebo controlled trials and pragmatic acupuncture studies. We argue
for an augmented, mixed methodology that integrates basic mechanism
studies, including modern imaging techniques such as fMRI, quantitative
and qualitative research as well as safety and health economic data
to obtain a more rigorous understanding of acupuncture. We hope that
by taking a broad, patient-centred and rigorous approach we may arrive
at a realistic and thoughtful evaluation of its relative value in comparison
to placebo treatment, conventional medicine as well as its potential
for integration into conventional clinical care.
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