[Retracted] The Effects of Positive or Neutral Communication during Acupuncture for Relaxing Effects: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial
Table 1
Blinding statements and genuine and sham acupuncture treatment related variables.
Variable
Total
Genuine acupuncture
Sham acupuncture
value
Positive communication
Neutral communication
value
Blinding, (%)
0.008
0.104
Penetrating the skin
185 (79)
102 (86)
83 (72)
98 (83)
87 (74)
Placed against the skin
50 (21)
17 (14)
33 (28)
20 (17)
30 (26)
How sure, needle type, (%)
0.001
0.128
Not sure at all
35 (15)
11 (10)
24 (20)
14 (12)
21 (18)
Fairly sure
111 (47)
50 (43)
61 (52)
55 (46)
56 (48)
Entirely sure
90 (38)
55 (47)
32 (26)
50 (42)
40 (34)
Did the therapist emphasize the expected positive effects, (%)
0.547
0.000
Yes
76 (32)
36 (30)
40 (34)
58 (49)
18 (15)
No
159 (68)
82 (70)
77 (66)
60 (51)
99 (85)
How sure, commun. type, (%)
0.250
0.305
Not at all
26 (11)
14 (12)
12 (10)
15 (13)
11 (9)
Fairly sure
125 (53)
56 (47)
69 (59)
64 (54)
61 (52)
Entirely sure
84 (36)
48 (41)
36 (31)
39 (33)
45 (39)
Needle-induced pain, (%)
0.000
0.725
Not painful
150 (63)
60 (50)
90 (75)
76 (64)
74 (62)
Mildly painful
74 (31)
47 (39)
27 (23)
36 (30)
38 (32)
Moderately painful
13 (5)
11 (9)
2 (2)
5 (4)
8 (6)
Very painful
2 (1)
2 (2)
—
2 (2)
0 (0)
Flush around needle points, (%) of participants
1.0
NA
NA
Yes
73 (30)
36 (30)
37 (31)
No
169 (70)
85 (70)
84 (69)
Side effects, (%) of participants
NA
NA
Bleeding, around needle points
0.001
Yes
17 (7)
15 (12)
2 (2)
No
225 (93)
106 (88)
119 (98)
Numbness, tingling in the hand
0.000
NA
NA
Yes
57 (24)
43 (36)
14 (12)
No
184 (76)
78 (64)
106 (88)
Dizziness
0.684
NA
NA
Yes
6 (3)
4 (3)
2 (2)
No
235 (97)
117 (98)
118 (98)
Fainting
0.498
NA
NA
Yes
1 (1)
0 (0)
1 (1)
No
240 (99)
121 (100)
119 (99)
Tiredness
0.630
NA
NA
Yes
61 (25)
29 (24)
32 (27)
No
180 (74)
92 (76)
88 (73)
Needle sensations, in number of treatments/total number of treatments
117/119
1/121
NA
NA
Numbers of needle sensations
NA
NA
md (25th–75th percentile)
6 (5-6)
0 (0-0)
Future interest in acupuncture treatment, (%)
0.337
0.008
Completely/much
174 (74)
81 (70)
93 (80)
96 (81)
78 (67)
Moderately
34 (15)
22 (19)
11 (9)
15 (13)
19 (16)
Little/not at all
26 (11)
13 (11)
13 (11)
7 (6)
19 (17)
Number () and proportion (%) of participants are presented. NA = not applicable; communication types were not compared regarding these variables. The therapist used wrong needle by mistake once. Needle scratched the skin. Statistical significant difference between groups.
