[Retracted] The Effects of Positive or Neutral Communication during Acupuncture for Relaxing Effects: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial
Table 2
Characteristics of the treated participants in the acupuncture and communication groups.
Characteristics
Total
Genuine acupuncture
Sham acupuncture
value
Positive communication
Neutral communication
value
Sex, (%)
0.448
0.409
Man
58 (24)
32 (26)
26 (22)
27 (22)
31 (27)
Female
180 (76)
89 (74)
91 (78)
95 (78)
85 (73)
Age in years: m ± SD
41.8 ± 13.2
42.7 ± 13.1
40.9 ± 13.6
40.5 ± 13.0
43.1 ± 13.6
0.132
Education, (%)
0.790
0.670
High school
4 (2)
3 (2)
1 (1)
4 (3)
College
78 (33)
39 (33)
39 (33)
44 (36)
34 (29)
Graduate school or higher education
156 (65)
78 (65)
78 (66)
77 (64)
79 (68)
EQ-VAS score, (0–100)
md (25th–75th percentile)
80 (70–90)
80 (70–90)
80 (70–90)
0.665
81 (74–90)
80 (70–90)
0.141
Earlier experience of acupuncture treatment, (%)
0.687
0.039
Yes
108 (45)
56 (47)
52 (44)
47 (39)
61 (52)
No
130 (55)
64 (53)
66 (56)
74 (61)
56 (48)
Belief in acupuncture for at least one symptom1, (%)
1.000
0.284
Yes
216 (93)
108 (93)
108 (93)
111 (95)
105 (91)
No
16 (7)
8 (7)
8 (7)
6 (5)
10 (9)
Belief in acupuncture, number of symptoms1, m ± SD
7.7 ± 4.7
8.3 ± 5.0
7.1 ± 4.3
0.060
8.4 ± 4.8
6.9 ± 4.4
0.013
Number () and proportion (%) of participants are presented. md = median, m = mean, SD = standard deviation, and EQ-VAS = Euro Qul Visual Analogue Scale. Out of maximum 17 different symptoms. Statistical significant difference between groups.
