Interpretive bias in acupuncture research?: A case study

Evaluation and the Health Professions

Volumn 32, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 393-409

  O'Connell, Neil E ^a   Wand, Benedict M ^b   Goldacre, Ben ^c  

^a BRUNEL UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME   (Australia)

^c KING'S COLLEGE LONDON   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Acupuncture; Back pain; Clinical trials; Interpretive bias

Indexed keywords

ACUPUNCTURE; ARTICLE; CLINICAL TRIAL; CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL; CONTROLLED STUDY; EPIDEMIOLOGY; HUMAN; LOW BACK PAIN; MASS MEDIUM; MULTICENTER STUDY; PUBLISHING; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL; STATISTICAL ANALYSIS;

ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY; BIAS (EPIDEMIOLOGY); DATA INTERPRETATION, STATISTICAL; HUMANS; JOURNALISM, MEDICAL; LOW BACK PAIN; MASS MEDIA;

EID: 71549137120     PISSN: 01632787     EISSN: 15523918     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0163278709353394     Document Type: Article

References (55)

1. Airaksinen, O., Brox, J.I., Cedraschi, C., Hildebrandt, J., Klaber-Moffett, J., Kovacs, F.,et al.(2006). Chapter 4. European guidelines for the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. COST B13 Working Group on Guidelines for Chronic Low Back Pain. European Spine Journal, Suppl 2, S192-S300.
2. Alper, B.S., Hand, J.A., Elliott, S.G., Kinkade, S., Hauan, M.J., Onion, D.K.,et al.(2004). How much effort is needed to keep up with the literature relevant for primary care? Journal of the Medical Library Association, 92, 429-437.
3. Assendelft, W.J.J., Morton, S.C., Yu, E.I., Suttorp, M.J., & Shekelle, P.G. (2004). Spinal manipulative therapy for low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: CD000447.
4. Bausell, R.B., Lao, L., Bergman, S., Lee, W., & Berman, B.M. (2005). Is acupuncture analgesia an expectancy effect? Preliminary evidence based on participants' perceived assignments in two placebo-controlled trials. Evaluation and the Health Professions, 28, 9-26.
5. BBC News. (2007, 25 September). Needles 'are best for back pain.' Retrieved on 10th October, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/.
6. Brinkhaus, B., Witt, C.M., Jena, S., Linde, K., Streng, A., Wagenpfeil, S.,et al.(2006). Acupuncture in patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166, 450-457.
7. Cherkin, D.C., Eisenberg, D., Sherman, K.J., Barlow, W., Kaptchuk, T.J., Street, J.,et al.(2001). Randomized trial comparing traditional Chinese medical acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and self-care education for chronic low back pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 161, 1081-1088.
8. Cherkin, D.C., Sherman, K.J., Avins, A.L., Erro, J.H., Ichikawa, L., Barlow, W.E.,et al.(2009). A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture and usual care for chronic low back pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169, 858-866.
9. Clarke, J.A., van Tulder, M.W., Blomberg, S.E.I., de Vet, H.C.W., van der Heijden, G.J.M.G., Bronfort, G.,et al.(2007). Traction for low-back pain with or with out sciatica. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: CD003010.
10. Derry, C.J., Derry, S., McQuay, H.J., & Moore, R.A. (2006). Systematic review of systematic reviews of acupuncture published 1996-2005. Clinical Medicine, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London, 6, 381-386.
11. Diener, H., Kronfeld, K., Boewing, G., Lungenhausen, M., Maier, C., Molsberger, A.,et al.(2006). Efficacy of acupuncture for the prophylaxis of migraine: A multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial. Lancet Neurology, 5, 310-316.
12. Endres, H.G., Böwing, G., Diener, H.C., Lange, S., Maier, C., Molsberger, A.,et al.(2007). Acupuncture for tension-type headache: A multicentre, sham-controlled, patient-and observer-blinded, randomised trial. Journal of Headache & Pain, 8, 306-314.
13. Endres, H.G. (2008). Acupuncture: Specific and non-specific effects. Forschende Komplementärmedizin, 15, 6-8.
14. Endres, H.G., Molsberger, A., & Haake, M. (2008a). Sham acupuncture is not a placebo-Reply. Archives of Internal Medicine, 168, 1012.
15. Endres, H.G., Molsberger, A., & Haake, M. (2008b). Acupuncture ineffective, attention effective?-Reply. Archives of Internal Medicine, 168, 551-552.
16. Ernst, E. (2008a). Acupuncture: What does the most reliable evidence tell us? Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 37(4), 709-14.
17. Ernst, E. (2008b). Acupuncture ineffective, attention effective? Archives of Internal Medicine, 168, 551.
18. Fleming, N. (2007, September 26). Acupuncture 'best therapy for back pain.' Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom. Retrieved on 10th October, 2008, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/.
19. French, S.D., Cameron, M., Walker, B.F., Reggars, J.W., & Esterman, A.J. (2006). A Cochrane review of superficial heat or cold for low back pain. Spine, 31, 998-1006.
20. Goldacre, B. (2007) Medicalisation-Don't take it lying down. Retrieved October 10, 2008, from http://www.badscience.net/2007/09/542/.
21. Greenhalgh, T. (1997). How to read a paper. London: BMJ Books. Retrieved January 20, 2009, from http://news.google.co.uk/archivesearch?q=back+pain+acupuncture&cid=8 621150414307538&um=1&sa=N&start=10.
22. Guzmán, J., Esmail, R., Karjalainen, K., Malmivaara, A., Irvin, E., & Bombardier, C. (2002). Multidisciplinary bio-psycho-social rehabilitation for chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: CD000963.
23. Haake, M., Müller, H.H., Schade-Brittinger, C., Prinz, H., Basler, H.D., & Streitberger,et al.(2003). The German multicenter, randomized, partially blinded, prospective trial of acupuncture for chronic low-back pain: A preliminary report on the rationale and design of the trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 9(5), 763-770.
24. Haake, M., Müller, H., Schade-Brittinger, C., Basler, H.D., Schäfer, H., Maier, C.,et al.(2007). German acupuncture trials (GERAC) for chronic low back pain: Randomized, multicenter, blinded, parallel-group trial with 3 groups. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167, 1892-1898.
25. Hayden, J.A., van Tulder, M.W., Malmivaara, A., & Koes, B.W. (2005). Exercise therapy for treatment of non-specific low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: CD000335.
26. Johnson, C.K. (2007, September 25). Study: Acupuncture works for back pain. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 10th October, 2008, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/.
27. Jørgensen, A.W., Hilden, J., & Gøtzsche, P.C. (2006). Cochrane reviews compared with industry supported meta-analyses and other meta-analyses of the same drugs: Systematic review. British Medical Journal, 333, 782.
28. Kalauokalani, D., Cherkin, D.C., Sherman, K.J., Koepsell, T.D., & Deyo, R.A. (2001). Lessons from a trial of acupuncture and massage for low back pain: Patient expectations and treatment effects. Spine, 26, 1418-1424.
29. Kaptchuk, T.J. (2003). Effect of interpretive bias on research evidence. British Medical Journal, 326, 1453-1455.
30. Kaptchuk, T.J. (2006). A plastic eagle feather is a placebo. Rapid response to.
31. Kaptchuk, T. J., Stason, W. B., Davis, R. B., Legedza, A. T. R., Schnyer, R. N., Kerr, C. E.,et al.(2006). Sham device versus inert pill: Randomised controlled trial of two placebo treatments. British Medical Journal, 332, 7538, 391-397.
32. Kaptchuk, T.J., Stason, W.B., Davis, R.B., Legedza, A.R., Schnyer, R.N., Kerr, C.E.,et al.(2006). Sham device v inert pill: Randomised controlled trial of two placebo treatments. British Medical Journal, 332, 391-397.
33. Kaptchuk, T.J., Kelley, J.M., Conboy, L.A., Davis, R.B., Kerr, C.E., Jacobson, E.E.,et al.(2008). Components of placebo effect: Randomised controlled trial in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. British Medical Journal, 336, 999-1003.
34. Langevin, H.M., Hammerschlag, R., Lao, L., Napadow, V., Schnyer, R.N., Sherman, K.J.,et al.(2006). Controversies in acupuncture research: Selection of controls and outcome measures in acupuncture clinical trials. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12, 943-953.
35. Lawrence, J. (2007, September 25). Acupuncture is best way to treat back pain, study finds. The Independent, Retrieved on 10th October, 2008, from http://www.independent.co.uk/.
36. Linde, K., Witt, C.M., Streng, A., Weidenhammer, W., Wagenpfeil, S., Brinkhaus, B.,et al.(2007). The impact of patient expectations on outcomes in four randomized controlled trials of acupuncture in patients with chronic pain. Pain, 128, 264-271.
37. Linde, K., Allais, G., Brinkhaus, B., Manheimer, E., Vickers, A., & White, A.R. (2009a). Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1: CD001218.
38. Linde, K., Allais, G., Brinkhaus, B., Manheimer, E., Vickers, A., & White, A.R. (2009b). Acupuncture for tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1: CD007587.
39. Lund, I., & Lundeberg, T. (2006). Are minimal, superficial or sham acupuncture procedures acceptable as inert placebo controls? Acupuncture in Medicine, 24, 13-15.
40. Lundeberg, T., Lund, I., & Näslund, J. (2007). Acupuncture- self-appraisal and the reward system. Acupuncture in Medicine, 25, 87-99.
41. Madsen, M.V., Gøtzsche, P.C., & Hróbjartsson, A. (2009). Acupuncture treatment for pain: Systematic review of randomised clinical trials with acupuncture, placebo acupuncture, and no acupuncture groups. British Medical Journal, 338, a3115.
42. Moerman, D.E. (2002). Meaning, medicine and the 'placebo effect. ' New York: Cambridge University Press.
43. Molsberger, A.F., Streitberger, K., Kraemer, J., Brittinger, C.S., Witte, S., Boewing, G.,et al.(2006). Designing an acupuncture study: II. The nationwide, randomized, controlled German acupuncture trials on low-back pain and gonarthrosis. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12, 733-742.
44. Nice. (2009). Low back pain: The early management of patients with persistent (longer than 6 weeks) non-specific low back pain. NICE clinical guideline 88. Retrieved on May, 25, 2009 from www.nice.org.uk.
45. Park, J., Linde, K., Manheimer, E., Molsberger, A., Sherman, K., Smith, C.,et al.(2008). The status and future of acupuncture clinical research. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14, 871-881.
46. Reuters (2007, September 25) Acupuncture helps back pain, don't ask how. Retrieved on 10th October, 2008, from http://uk.reuters.com/.
47. Schultz, K.F., Chalmers, I., Hayes, R.J., & Altman, D.G. (1995). Empirical evidence of bias: Dimensions of methodological quality associated with estimates of treatment effects in controlled trials. Journal of the American Medical Association, 273, 408-412.
48. Vase, A., Riley, III, J.L., & Price, D.D. (2002). A comparison of placebo effects in clinical analgesic trials versus studies of placebo analgesia. Pain, 99, 443-452.
49. Wager, T.D. (2005). The neural bases of placebo effects in anticipation and pain. Seminars in Pain Medicine, 3, 22-30.
50. Wand, B.M., & O'Connell, N.E. (2008). German acupuncture trials for chronic low back pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 168, 1011.
51. White, A., & Cummings, M. (2009). Does acupuncture relieve pain? Interpreting the effects of sham acupuncture holds the answer. British Medical Journal, 338, a2760.
52. Williams, C. (2007, September 24) Fake or not, acupuncture helps back pain: Even sham version of technique beats conventional therapies. ABC News. Retrieved on 10th October, 2008, from http://abcnews.go.com/.
53. Witt, C.M., Pach, D., Brinkhaus, B., Wruck, K., Tag, B., Mank, S.,et al.(2009). Safety of acupuncture: Results of a prospective observational study with 229,230 patients and introduction of a medical information and consent form. Forschende Komplementärmedizin und Klassische Naturheilkunde, 16, 91-97.
54. Wood, L., Egger, M., Gluud, L.L., Schulz, K.F., Jüni, P., Altman, D.G.,et al.(2008). Empirical evidence of bias in treatment effect estimates in controlled trials with different interventions and outcomes: Meta-epidemiological study. British Medical Journal, 336, 601-605.
55. Yuan, J., Purepong, N., Kerr, D.P., Park, J., Bradbury, I., & McDonough, S. (2008). Effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain. A systematic review. Spine, 33, E887-E900.