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© 1989 Oxford University Press

research-article

A Meta-Analysis of Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

MAHESH PATEL*, FELIX GUTZWILLER**, FRED PACCAUD** and ALFIO MARAZZI**

* Route de Saint-Loup 4, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland.
**Institut Universitaire de Médecine Sociale et Préventive 17 Rue du Bugnon, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Patel M (Route de Saint-Loup 4, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland), Gutzwiller F, Paccaud F and Marazzi A. A meta-analysis of acupuncture for chronic pain. International Journal of Epidemiology 1989, 18: 900–906.

Results of 14 randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for chronic pain were pooled in a meta-analysis and analysed in three subgroups according to site of pain; and in two subgroups each according to type to trial, type of treatment, type of control, ‘blindness’ of participating agents, trial size, and type of journal in which results were published. While few individual trials had statistically significant results, pooled results of many subgroups attained statistical significance in favour of acupuncture. Various potential sources of bias, including problems with blindness, precluded a conclusive finding although most results apparently favoured acupuncture.

Revised 1 April 1989


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