Abstract
Sham electroacupuncture (EA) control is commonly used to evaluate the specific effects of EA in randomized-controlled trials (RCTs). However, establishing an inert and concealable sham EA control remains methodologically challenging. Here, we aimed to systematically investigate the sham EA methods. Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 2015. Ten out of the 17 sham EA methods were identified from 94 RCTs involving 6134 participants according to three aspects: needle location, depth of needle insertion and electrical stimulation. The top three most frequently used types were sham EA type A, type L and type O ordinally. Only 24 out of the 94 trials reported credibility tests in six types of sham EA methods and the results were mainly as follows: sham EA type A (10/24), type B (5/24) and type Q (5/24). Compared with sham EA controls, EA therapy in 56.2% trials reported the specific effects, of which the highest positive rate was observed in type N (3/4), type F (5/7), type D (4/6) and type M (2/3). In conclusion, several sham EA types were identified as a promising candidate for further application in RCTs. Nonetheless, more evidence for inert and concealable sham EA control methods is needed.
Highlights
After examining the full content of the remaining 305 articles, we removed 211 records, of which 127 articles were due to lack of sham EA controls, including electro-acupuncture (14 studies), manual acupuncture (13 studies), transcutaneous nerve electrical stimulation (TNES) (7 studies), other treatment (69 studies) or no treatment (24 studies); 49 articles removed for lack of real EA groups, with their target intervention designed as manual acupuncture (10 studies), TNES (38 studies) or periosteal stimulation therapy (PST) (1 study); 10 articles were not randomized controlled trial (RCT); 13 articles were double publications; 12 articles were cross-over design
We summarized seventeen kinds of sham EA methods according to three aspects as needle location, depth of needle insertion and electrical stimulation, whereas only ten types of sham EA methods were identified from 94 included RCTs involving 6134 participants
About 56.2% of comparisons provided the evidence of specific effect of EA therapy, and the four types of Sham EA controls with highest positive rate of efficacy result were type N (75%, 3/4 comparisons), type F (71.4%, 5/7 comparisons), type D (66.7%, 4/6 comparisons) and type M (66.7%, 2/3 comparisons) ordinally
Summary
Establishing an inert and concealable sham EA control remains methodologically challenging. We aimed to systematically investigate the sham EA methods. The objective of this study is to investigate the sham EA methods utilized in EA RCTs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
