DARE: Search Results
Document: 6
Acupuncture/Acupressure for weight reduction? a systematic review.
Ernst E..
Acupuncture/Acupressure for weight reduction? a systematic review.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift,
1997,
109(2),
pp.60-62
Record status
This record is a structured abstract written by CRD reviewers. The original
has met a set of quality criteria. Since September 1996 abstracts have been
sent to authors for comment. Additional factual information is incorporated
into the record. Noted as [A:....].
Author's objective
To systematically review sham\placebo controlled trials of
acupuncture\acupressure in obesity. Type of intervention
Treatment.
Specific interventions included in the review
Unilateral ear acupuncture using permanant needles; bilateral ear acupuncture
using permanant needles; sham\placebo acupuncture using permanant needles;
sessions of ear acupuncture at various points; acupressure device in the ear;
acupressure device on wrist.
Participants included in the review
Two trials involved obese volunteers, one trial involved volunteers and one
trial involved obese women.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Body weight reduction; appetite.
Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
What sources were searched to identify primary studies?
CIS-COM and MEDLINE (1966 - 1996) were searched and bibliographies of obtained
papers scanned for further relevant papers.
Criteria on which the validity (or quality) of studies was assessed
The studies were scored using Kleijnen et al (1991) scale according to their
methodological quality. Points are awarded for the use of eg power
calculations, randomisation, blinding, compliance, validated outcomes. The
maximum score possible is 100 points.
How were the judgements of validity (or quality) made?
Not stated.
How were decisions on the relevence of primary studies made?
All sham\placebo controlled studies of acupuncture or acupressure as an aid
for body weight loss in humans were included. There are no details of how
these decisions were reached.
How was the data extracted from primary studies?
Not stated.
Number of studies included
4 randomised controlled trials (270 participants).
How were the studies combined?
A narrative synthesis is used.
How were differences between studies investigated?
It is noted that the studies differ in terms of treatment modality, treatment
period, study sample and trial design.
Results of the review
The two trials of low methodological quality, which primarily assessed hunger
had positive results; the two trials judged to be of greater methodological
quality, which measured body weight found no differences between treatment and
control.
Was any cost information reported?
No.
Author's conclusions
No clear picture emerges to show that acupuncture\acupressure is effective in
reducing appetite or body weight. Claims that these forms of treatment have
specific effects on these conditions are not based on well performed clinical
trials.
The best way forward might be to conduct well-designed clinical trials that
have the power to provide a definitive answer as to whether or not acupuncture
leads to significantly greater reduction of appetite or body weight than an
indistinguishable sham procedure.
CRD commentary
This review clearly illustrates the importance of considering methodological
quality when evaluating randomised controlled trials (RCTs). However, the
databases searched may not provide the best source of trials of complementary
medicine. The lack of details about the review processes used by the author
prevents proper assessment of the quality of this review.
Subject index terms
Subject indexing assigned by NLM: Acupressure-; Acupuncture-Therapy;
Obesity/tu [therapy] Appetite-; Body-Weight; Clinical-Trials;
Treatment-Outcome
Correspondence address
Professor E Ernst, Department of Complementary Medicine, Postgraduate Medical
School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Copyright
University of York, 1998
Database no.: DARE-978062
