Sham Acupressure Controls Used in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review and Critique.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore the commonly utilized sham acupressure procedures in existing acupressure trials, and to assess whether different types of sham interventions yield different therapeutic outcomes, and, as far as possible, to identify directions for the future development of an adequate sham acupressure method.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials comparing true acupressure with sham interventions were included. Thirteen electronic databases were adopted to locate relevant studies from inception to July 3, 2014. Meanwhile, eight Chinese journals on complementary and alternative medicine were manually searched to locate eligible articles. In addition, eligible studies listed in the reference lists of the included papers and other related systematic reviews on acupressure

SUBMITTER: Tan JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4503717 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature