| ObjectiveComparing the blinding effect between superficial needling at non-acupoints and telescopic non-penetrating needling. Moreover, providing evidence-based medical data for the choice of clinical placebo-controlled methods.Method120healthy students who have received both acadamic and practical acupuncture education from Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They were randomly assigned to three groups of40volunteers.Team A follows the test steps of superficial needing at none acupoints and telescopic non-penetrating needing then conventional acupuncture needing. Team B follows the test steps of telescopic non-penetrating needing and superficial needing at none acupoints then conventional acupuncture needing. Team C follows the test steps of conventional acupuncture needing with none acupoints and telescopic non-penetrating needing then conventional acupuncture needing. All of the trials chose Bailao and Dazhui acupoints. Each trial takes20minutes after a two-week washout period. Using Streitberger questionnaire to evaluate the trial including measures of penetration sensation, VAS and the Deqi sensation. The observation data was written into CRF and enteried into computer by EPIDATA3.1and the establishment of a database and analyzed using SPSS19.0。Statistical description were presented as mean±standard deviation and measurement data used ANOVA test, counting data used χ2test.Results117of120volunteers completed the questionnaires. Three of the cases dropped out:one case can not cooperate with the test on time due to personal reasons; one case whose skin was penetrated by telescopic non-penetrating needling; one case was supposed to be used superficial needling at non-acupoints, but the operator mistakenly applied the telescopic non-penetrating needling. Questionnaire returning rate was97.50%.1. Baseline data comparisonThree groups show no gender difference (χ2=0.367, P=0.833), no age difference (F=1.476,P=0.233) and no education difference (χ2=4.776, P=0.092). The acupuncture experience(counting by times) shows statistically significant difference (F=3.464, P=0.035). The acupuncture experience is related to the length of schooling and personal preference. Since all the volunteers were acupuncture medical students with more than three years of acupuncture learning and manipulating experience. Therefore, the times of acupuncture do not impact the outcome.2. Needling Penetration comparisonGroup A, Group B, Group C all received three kinds of test methods: superficial needling at non-acupoints、non-penetrating needling and acupuncture needling. Chi-square test showes no significant difference in Group A (χ2=3.889, P=0.149); no significant differencein the Group B(χ2=1.569, P=0.456); statistically significant differernce in group C(χ2=4.879, P=0.047). There are respectively99,98,111volunteers who gave "yes" answer in the three accumulative total group, chi-square test showed a significant difference between three accumulative total group(χ2=8.322, P=0.016).Between superficial needling at non-acupoints and non-penetrating needling:No significant difference in Group A(χ2=0.105, P=0.745); no statistical significance in Group B(χ2=1.569, P=0.210); no significant difference in the Group C(χ2=0.398, P=0.528); The three accumulative total group shows no significant difference (χ2=0.032; P=0.858).Between superficial needling at non-acupoints and acupuncture needling:No significant difference in Group A (χ2=2.883, P=0.201); no statistical significance in Group B(χ2=0.457, P=0.499); significant difference in the Group C (χ2=6.686, P=0.010); The three accumulative total group shows significant difference (χ2=6.686, P=0.010).Between non-penetrating needling and acupuncture needling:significant difference in Group A (χ2=3.914,P=0.048); no statistical significance in Group B(χ2=1-569, P=0.210); no significant difference in the Group C (χ2=2.902, P=0.199); The three accumulative total group shows significant difference(χ2=7.569, P=0.006).3.VAS score of Penetration painGroup A, Group B, Group C all received three kinds of test methods: superficial needling at non-acupoints、non-penetrating needling and acupuncture needling. the one-way analysis of variance shows:significant difference in Group A (F=8.574, P=0.000); no significant differencein the Group B (P=0.462, P=0.631); no statistically significant differernce in group C (F=1.381, P=0.256); significant difference between three accumulative total group (P=5.086, P=0.007).Between superficial needling at non-acupoints and non-penetrating needling significant difference in Group A (P=0.005); no statistical significance in Group B(P=0.625); no significant difference in the Group C (P=0.134); The three accumulative total group shows significant difference (P=0.039).Between superficial needling at non-acupoints and acupuncture needling:significant difference in Group A (P=0.000); no statistical significance in Group B(P=0.639); no significant difference in the Group C (P=0.177); The three accumulative total group shows significant difference (P=0.002).Between non-penetrating needling and acupuncture needling:no significant difference in Group A (P=0.256); no statistical significance in Group B(P=0.338); no significant difference in the Group C (P=0.882); The three accumulative total group shows no significant difference (P=0.286).4. De qi sensation comparisonGroup A, Group B, Group C all received three kinds of test methods: superficial needling at non-acupoints、non-penetrating needling and acupuncture needling. Chi-square test shows significant difference in Group A (χ2=9.641, P=0.008); no significant difference in the Group B (χ2=2.773, P=0.250); no statistically significant difference in group C (χ2=4.386, P=0.112). There are respectively65,74,93volunteers who gave "yes" answer in the three accumulative total group, chi-square test showed a significant difference between three accumulative total group (χ2=15.587, P=0.000). Between superficial needling at non-acupoints and non-penetrating needling:no significant difference in Group A (χ2=0.808, P=0.369); no statistical significance in Group B(χ2=0.205, P=0.651); no significant difference in the Group C (χ2=0.544, P=0.461); The three accumulative total group shows no significant difference (χ2=1.435, P=0.231).Between superficial needling at non-acupoints and acupuncture needling:significant difference in Group A(χ2=9.448, P=0.002); no statistical significance in Group B(χ2=2.650, P=0.104); significant difference in the Group C (χ2=4.385, P=0.036); The three accumulative total group shows significant difference(χ2=15.278, P=0.000).Between non-penetrating needling and acupuncture needling:significant difference in Group A (χ2=4.943, P=0.026); no statistical significance in Group B(χ2=1.398, P=0.237); no significant difference in the Group C(χ2=1.909, P=0.167); The three accumulative total group shows significant difference(χ2=7.550, P=0.006).5. Tapes of Deqi sensationGroup A:superficial needling at non-acupoints sensation:soreness> numbness>swollen sense>others>sensation along meridian>heaviness; non-penetrating needling sensation:soreness=swollen sense>numbness=heaviness> others>sensation along meridian; acupuncture needling sensation:swollen sensation>numbness>heaviness>others=soreness> sensation along meridian.Group B:superficial needling at non-acupoints sensation:swollen sense> numbness>heaviness>sensation along meridian>soreness>others; non-penetrating needling sensation:swollen sense>heaviness>numbness>soreness> sensation along meridian>others; acupuncture needling sensation:swollen sensation>heaviness>soreness=numbness>sensation along meridian>others.Group C:superficial needling at non-acupoints sensation:swollen sense=soreness>numbness>heaviness>sensation along meridian=others; non-penetrating needling sensation:swollen sense>numbness>soreness>heaviness> sensation along meridian>others; acupuncture needling sensation:swollen sensation>soreness>numbness>heaviness>others>sensation along meridian.The three accumulative total group:superficial needling at non-acupoints sensation:swollen sense>numbness>soreness>heaviness>sensation along meridian>others;non-penetrating needling sensation:swollen sense>numbness> heaviness>soreness>sensation along meridian>others; acupuncture needling sensation:swollen sensation>numbness>soreness>heaviness>others>sensation along meridian.ConclusionsIn the medical students majoring in acupuncture, penetration sensation and Deqi sensation are even between superficial needling at non-acupoints and telescopic non-penetrating needling. Penetration sensation and Deqi sensation are different between the two kinds of sham needling and true acupuncture needling. For the VAS score of Penetration pain, the telescopic non-penetrating needling is the same as true acupuncture needling, but the superficial needling at non-acupoints is different from the true acupuncture needling. the blinding effect of telescopic needling at non-acupoint is better. |
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