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Research: MAA and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 100
Abstract
MAA and colleagues, School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, have carried out a pilot study of acupuncture or acupressure and their effects on the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive asthma.
Background
Although acupuncture and acupressure are known to benefit people with asthma, there is a lack of data on the effects in people with chronic obstructive asthma.
Methodology
In this prospective, randomized study, 41 patients with chronic obstructive asthma were recruited. They were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture in addition to standard care (n = 11), acupressure in addition to standard care (n = 17), or standard care alone (n = 13). 20 acupuncture treatments were administered, and self-administered acupressure was administered daily for 8 weeks. Six-minute walking, the Dyspnoea VAS, the modified Borg scale, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and the Bronchitis Emphysema Symptom Checklist were used pre treatment and post treatment.
Results
The total St George's Respiratory Questionnaire score improved in the acupuncture group on average 18.5-fold, and the improvement for the acupressure group was 6.6-fold. In addition, the irritability score of the Bronchitis Emphysema Symptom Checklist showed an 11.8-fold improvement in the acupressure group. Other parameters did not vary significantly.
Conclusion
Patients with chronic obstructive asthma experienced clinically significant improvements in their quality of life when the standard care was supplemented with acupuncture or acupressure.
References
Maa SH, Sun MF, Hsu KH, Hung TJ, Chen HC, Yu CT, Wang CH, Lin HC. Effect of acupuncture or acupressure on quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive asthma: a pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 9 (5): 659-670, Oct 2003.
