Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Is Acupuncture Effective In Improving Pain In Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis?, Despina Lianidis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is acupuncture effective in improving pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis?”

Study design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in between 2015-2018.

Data sources: All three RCTs were discovered using PubMed. The articles were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and selected based on applicability to the clinical question.

Outcome measured: Based on the studies done by Lin et al. and Chen et al., using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), a self-reported measure of lower extremity pain, stiffness, …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Improving The Mental Health In Adults With Chronic Neck Pain?, Madison Joiner

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in treating chronic neck pain in patients between the ages of 25-70y/o.

Study design: Review of three randomized controlled trials published in English language between 2010-2018.

Data sources: Three RCTs published in peer reviewed journals, searched through PubMed.

Outcome measured: The outcome measured included improvement in mental health. This was measured using short form 36 (SF-36).

Results: Cerezo-Téllez et al treatment showed significant improvement in patients mental health 3 months post acupuncture treatment compared to sham acupuncture. Liang et al also found significant …

Is Acupuncture Effective For Treating Sciatica Pain In Adults?, Lee-Mary A. Njoku

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective for treating sciatica pain in adults.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of one randomized controlled trial, randomized single-blinded controlled trial and one nonrandomized controlled trial.

DATA SOURCES: All articles were published in English between 2017 and 2019 and obtained from peer-reviewed journals using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Change from baseline in average leg pain at week 4 measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) in Huang et al. and the NRS score Zhang et al. Postpartum sciatica pain measured by patient reported recovery in …

Is Acupuncture Therapy Effective In The Improvement Of Symptoms Of Insomnia In Adults?, Mariana Tolosa Tourem

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture therapy is effective in the improvement of symptoms of insomnia in adults.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2017 and 2018.

DATA SOURCES: Articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed Database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured was the patients’ decrease in insomnia symptoms through the use of self-administered questionnaires such as the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and through a sleep diary.

RESULTS: The studies by Yin, Gou, Xu, et al. (Sleep Med. 2017;37:193-200. …

Is Acupuncture An Effective Treatment For Alleviating Fibromyalgia?, Brittney Beckmon-Forrester

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is an effective treatment for alleviating fibromyalgia.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2014, 2016, and 2017.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources for this review were articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed Database.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: The outcome measured was the patients decrease in pain intensity through the use of the visual analog scale.

RESULTS: Stival et al. (2014) found that the change in pain for patients who received true acupuncture to be statistically significant with a p-value of 0.0001. Ugurle …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Reducing Opioid Cravings In Detoxifying Opioid Abusing Adults?, Sarah Kish

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is acupuncture effective in reducing opioid cravings in detoxifying opioid abusing adults?”

STUDY DESIGN: A review of three RCTs published in English, each of which was published in 2009, 2013 and 2014 respectively.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in peer-reviewed journals that evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture to reduce opioid cravings found via PubMed and ScienceDirect.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Opioid cravings via 100 millimeter analog scale score, the Maudsely craving score consisting of five-point Likert scales and withdraw symptoms as measured by a 4-point …

Is Acupuncture A Beneficial Therapy For The Treatment Of Alcohol Dependence?, Jamie E. Mcginn

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is a beneficial therapy for the treatment of alcohol dependence.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized controlled trails (RCTs) which were published in 2007, 2015, and 2016.

DATA SOURCES: All articles were presented in English and taken from peer reviewed journals found on PubMed.

OUTCOMES: The various symptoms of alcohol dependence; from withdrawal, cravings, and use were assessed through various methods. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms were assed using the alcohol-withdrawal syndrome scale, alcohol craving was assed using a Visual Analogue Scale, and alcohol use was measured …

Is Acupuncture (Including Electroacupuncture) Beneficial On The Quality Of Life In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease?, Yoo Yuong Chon

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is acupuncture (including electroacupuncture) beneficial on the quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease?”

Study design: Systematic review of three primary studies published in 2015 and 2016

Data sources: Two randomized control trials and one non-randomized control trial were chosen through PubMed to study the effects of acupuncture (including electroacupuncture) improving the quality of life and activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Outcome(s) measured: The outcomes were measured by using two types of questionnaires: A 39-item Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) to measure …

Is Acupuncture An Effective Adjunct Therapy In Improving Quality Of Life Outcomes Of Women, 18-25 Years Old, With Clinically Diagnosed Disordered Eating?, Margaret Hornbake

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this EBM is to determine whether or not acupuncture can be used as an adjunct therapy in improving quality of life outcomes in women, 18-25 years old, with a clinically diagnosed eating disorder.

STUDY DESIGN: Systemic review of one randomized cross-over pilot study published in 2010, one randomized controlled trial published in 2013, and one pilot randomized controlled trial published in 2014, all published in the English language

DATA SOURCES: Data sources for this review were articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed Database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured include patient response to treatment and improvements …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Improving The Quality Of Life For Women In The Reproductive Age Diagnosed With Endometriosis?, Ashley M. Hayes

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in improving the quality of life for women in the reproductive age diagnosed with endometriosis.

Study Design: Review of 3 RCTs published between 2011-current, all in the English language. One of the RCTs was blinded while the other two were non-blinded.

Data Source: Three RCTs that analyzed the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy compared to control groups. All studies were found using EBSCOhost, PubMed and Medline and were selected based on relevance to the proposed clinical question.

Outcomes Measured: Each of the 3 articles …

Is Acupuncture, Including Electroacupuncture, Effective In Treating Pain In Plantar Fasciitis?, Alicia Campiglia

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether the use of acupuncture, including electroacupuncture, is effective in treating pain in patients with plantar fasciitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 RCTs published between 2011-current, all in the English language.

DATA SOURCES: Three RCTs analyzed the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy compared to a control group using alternate analgesic therapies. All studies were found using EBSCOhost and PubMed and were selected based on relevance to the proposed clinical question.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the 3 articles analyzed the effectiveness of treating pain with acupuncture treatment in patients diagnosed with …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Reducing The Pain Intensity Due To Primary Dysmenorrhea?, Allison Eichenlaub

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: the objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in reducing the pain intensity due to primary dysmenorrhea in women ages 15 to 35.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized control trials (RCTs) written in English, one of which was published in 2011 and two in 2013.

DATA SOURCES: Three non-blind randomized control trials published in peer reviewed journals found via PubMed.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Pain intensity due to primary dysmenorrhea was measured using visual analog scale (VAS), Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS), and Cox Retrospective Symptom Scale (RSS COX2 – average …

How Effective Is Acupuncture In Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue In Adult Cancer Patients?, Anita Elizabeth Kurian

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is an effective course of treatment for improving cancer-related fatigue in adult cancer patients.

DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled studies published from 2006-2012.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials studying the effects of acupuncture therapy on cancer-related fatigue were found using PubMed and Cochrane databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the three trials assessed the efficacy and clinical improvement of cancer-related fatigue after acupuncture therapy. Results were measured on the Functional Assessment of Chronic-Illness Therapy-Fatigue Subscale (FACIT-F) or the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory …

Is Acupuncture An Effective Treatment For Women With Chronic Migraine?, Elham Oumer

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in treating chronic migraine in women between the ages of 18-65.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two randomized controlled trials and one prospective controlled trial published in English language between 2009 and 2014.

DATA SOURCES: Two PCTs and one prospective CT published in peer reviewed journals, searched through PubMed, EBSCOhost.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured included improvement in quality of life, reduction in intensity and number of headache days. This were measured using 50% responders analysis, self reporting by participants, short form 36 (SF-36) …

How Effective Is Acupuncture In Treating Persistent Allergic Rhinitis In Children And Adults?, Diana M. Casallas

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in treating persistent allergic rhinitis in children and adults. Study design: Review of three published, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2004, 2007, and 2013. All English language. Data Source: The three randomized controlled trials that used in this review were found using PubMed. Outcome measured: Symptoms of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing and itching were measured with the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS). Other outcomes measured were: Daily rhinitis scores, relief medication scores symptom free days and relief quality of life questionnaire …

Is Acupuncture An Effective Treatment For Acute Migraine?, Meghan C. Knab

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is an effective treatment for acute migraines.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language randomized controlled trials, published between 2003 and 2012.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials published in peer reviewed journals found using PubMed, Medline, and EBSCOhost.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured included complete absence of migraine pain, measured by Visual Analog Scale scores and a headache diary, and progression to a fully formed migraine, measured by the Validated Pain Scale by Heller.

RESULTS: The studies by Li et al and Wang et …

Is Stimulating Acupoints On The Skin In Addition To Standard Medication More Effective For The Improvement Of Breathlessness In Ambulatory Patients With Copd Over The Age Of 60 Than Standard Medication Alone?, Abigail D. Sbat

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not stimulating acupoints on the skin in addition to standard medication is more effective for the improvement of breathlessness in ambulatory patients with COPD over the age of 60 than standard medication alone.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2008, 2010, and 2012; selection was based on their relevance to the clinical question and if they contained patient oriented outcomes.

DATA SOURCES: Three peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials comparing the addition of acupuncture/Acu-Tens to standard treatment and standard treatment alone were found on PubMed. …

Is Acupuncture Effective In The Prophylaxis Of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections In Adult Women?, Caitlin E. Mumford

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in the prophylaxis of recurrent urinary infections in adult women.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three English language primary studies, published between 1998 and 2003.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized, controlled trials published after 1996, comparing acupuncture to placebo in the prophylaxis of urinary tract infections were obtained using EBSCOhost and PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All three studies measured incidence or absence of urinary tract infections, as defined by distal urinary symptoms and/or bacteriuria of ≥ 105 cfu/ml.

RESULTS: Three …

Is Acupuncture An Effective Treatment For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?, Sherri A. Kowalczuk

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is an effective treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, one published in 2007 and two of which were published in 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials investigating the use of acupuncture for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Sources were found using PubMed and Cochrane databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured include the severity of pain from DPN, blood glucose control, and effects on quality of life such as sleep, mood states, and gain or loss …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Reducing Itch Intensity And Wheal Size In Patients With Dermatologic Conditions?, Melanie Schwer

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether acupuncture is effective in reducing itch intensity and wheal size in patients with dermatologic conditions.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of all English language primary randomized controlled trials published after 1984

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials were found using Pubmed database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The three trials measured various outcomes: Visual Analog Scale (VAS); Eppendorf Itch Questionnaire; Cumulative Itch Index; Perimeter of wheal and flare size before, during, & after acupuncture; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)

RESULTS: Belgrade et al. found statistically significant improvement in itch intensity and flare …

Is Acupuncture An Effective Treatment For Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome?, Amy Leber

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Is Acupuncture Effective In Reducing Nausea And Vomiting In Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy?, Kara Meekins

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE- The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not acupuncture effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy.