Assessing knowledge about acupuncture: A survey of people with back pain in the UK

Greville-Harris, Maddy; Hughes, John; Lewith, George; Liossi, Christina; White, Peter; Graham, Cynthia A.; Bishop, Felicity L.

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2016.10.005

Cited by 11 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…The survey also assessed demographic characteristics; experience of/sources of knowledge about placebos (to permit an initial assessment of the validity of our knowledge questionnaire); and history and severity of back pain and its impact on daily living, using the validated reliable Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire. 14 Participants also completed a 15-item acupuncture questionnaire (reported separately 15 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain

et al. 2017

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IntroductionPatients require an accurate knowledge about placebos and their possible effects to ensure consent for placebo-controlled clinical trials is adequately informed. However, few previous studies have explored patients’ baseline (ie, pretrial recruitment) levels of understanding and knowledge about placebos. The present online survey aimed to assess knowledge about placebos among patients with a history of back pain.DesignA 15-item questionnaire was constructed to measure knowledge about placebos. Additional questions assessed sociodemographic characteristics, duration and severity of back pain, and previous experience of receiving placebos.SettingParticipants recruited from community settings completed the study online.Results210 participants completed the questionnaire. 86.7% had back pain in the past 6 months, 44.3% currently had back pain. 4.3% had received a placebo intervention as part of a clinical trial and 68.1% had previously read or heard information about placebos. Overall knowledge of placebos was high, with participants on average answering 12.07 of 15 questions about placebos correctly (SD=2.35). However, few participants correctly answered questions about the nocebo effect (31.9% correct) and the impact of the colour of a placebo pill (55.2% correct).ConclusionsThe findings identified key gaps in knowledge about placebos. The lack of understanding of the nocebo effect in particular has implications for the informed consent of trial participants. Research ethics committees and investigators should prioritise amending informed consent procedures to incorporate the fact that participants in the placebo arm might experience adverse side effects.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain

et al. 2017

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“…Knowledge was assessed using a 10-item quiz, comprising true–false questions selected from a larger pool of 15 items pilot-tested in a community-based sample of 202 adults with recent back pain. 23 The 10 items most commonly answered incorrectly by the community-based sample were selected (e.g. ‘Acupuncture is never available on the NHS’ – false).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[23][24][25] For example, approximately 50% of community-dwelling adults with a history of back pain surveyed did not know that acupuncture is not statutorily regulated in the United Kingdom. 23 Lack of knowledge might deter use 26 and is important to address. Therefore, people considering acupuncture might benefit from a reliable online source of accurate, evidence-based information to support their decision-making.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…19,20 Indeed, there is evidence of knowledge gaps, misconceptions and concerns about acupuncture among acupuncture patients, 11 trial participants, 21 healthcare providers 22 and the wider community. 23–25 For example, approximately 50% of community-dwelling adults with a history of back pain surveyed did not know that acupuncture is not statutorily regulated in the United Kingdom. 23 Lack of knowledge might deter use 26 and is important to address.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supporting informed choice in acupuncture: effects of a new person-, evidence- and theory-based website for patients with back pain

et al. 2019

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Objectives: To test whether a newly developed person-, theory- and evidence-based website about acupuncture helps patients make informed decisions about whether or not to use acupuncture for back pain. Methods: A randomised online study compared a newly developed ‘enhanced website’ to a ‘standard website’. The enhanced website provided evidence-based information in a person-based manner and targeted psychological constructs. The standard website was based on a widely used patient information leaflet. In total, 350 adults with recent self-reported back pain were recruited from general practices in South West England. The two primary outcomes were knowledge change and making an informed choice about using acupuncture. Secondary outcomes were beliefs about and willingness to have acupuncture. Results: Participants who viewed the enhanced acupuncture website had a significantly greater increase in knowledge about acupuncture (M = 1.1, standard deviation (SD) = 1.7) than participants who viewed the standard website (M = 0.2, SD = 1.1; F(1, 315) = 37.93, p < 0.001, η2 = .107). Participants who viewed the enhanced acupuncture website were also 3.3 times more likely to make an informed choice about using acupuncture than those who viewed the standard website (χ2(1) = 23.46, p < 0.001). There were no significant effects on treatment beliefs or willingness to have acupuncture. Conclusion: The enhanced website improved patients’ knowledge and ability to make an informed choice about acupuncture, but did not optimise treatment beliefs or change willingness to have acupuncture. The enhanced website could be used to support informed decision-making among primary care patients and members of the general public considering using acupuncture for back pain.

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“…4 On the contrary, patients with chronic pain seem to know more about acupuncture and are more likely to have tried other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). 5 However, acupuncture is often considered a last resort therapy, as studies suggest that people with chronic conditions and pain who have failed conventional therapies are more likely to go for acupuncture. 4,6…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives of patients on medical acupuncture in a primary care setting in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2021

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Introduction: There is paucity of data on the knowledge of acupuncture and its use among patients in Lebanon and the Arab countries. Objectives: The primary objectives of this study were to determine the knowledge and attitude of patients in a primary care setting in Lebanon toward Western medical acupuncture and to determine factors that may affect their attitudes toward acupuncture use. The secondary objective was to compare the attitudes and knowledge of patients who had tried acupuncture with those who had not. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study about the perspectives of patients in a primary care setting in Lebanon on medical acupuncture. Results: A total of 212 surveys were completed (78.5% response rate). 24% of participants had not tried and were unwilling to try acupuncture (group 1), 63.5% of participants had not tried but indicated they would be willing to try acupuncture (group 2), and 12.5% of participants had previously tried acupuncture (group 3). Most participants in group 1 (55.6%) stated they would be unwilling to try acupuncture even if referred for it by a physician. Participants who had tried acupuncture (12.5%) had done so for pain conditions. Discussion: Group 3 scored higher on knowledge questions and had a more positive attitude toward the acupuncture procedure. Most patients who had tried it had done so to treat pain complaints. Conclusion: Patients in groups 2 and 3 were more knowledgeable about acupuncture, had tried more complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities, and were more likely to try acupuncture as an add-on or last resort treatment, compared to group 1.

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Assessing knowledge about acupuncture: A survey of people with back pain in the UK

Cited by 11 publications

References 20 publications

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain

What trial participants need to be told about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain

Supporting informed choice in acupuncture: effects of a new person-, evidence- and theory-based website for patients with back pain

Perspectives of patients on medical acupuncture in a primary care setting in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study

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