Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain (Review)

Table 2. Methodological quality assessment
(Continued)
Molsberger
2002
Y and Y Y Y, N, Y DK Y Y (immed), N
(short)
Y Y Score=9 (immediately after) and
Score=8 (short-term: drop-out rate
at 3 months was 34%) (High).
Blinding was between verum and
sham acupuncture, but not between
verum and nothing
Sakai 1998 DK and
DK
N N,N,DK DK DK N N DK Score=0 (Low). Methods poorly
described. A statistically significant
difference was observed in disability
score at baseline. ADL was 7.6
in acupuncture group and 10.3 in
medication group. Other parameters
such as subjective symptom of
pain, JOA score, duration of pain,
gender were not statistically different
at baseline
Sakai 2001 Y and Y Y N,N, Y Y Y Y Y N Score=8. No serious flaws (High)
Takeda
2001
Y and DK DK Y,N,N DK Y Y Y DK Score=5 (Low)
Thomas
1994
DK
DK
and
Y N,N, DK N Y DK Y Y Score=4 (Low). We get different results
when we re-analysed using the
data from the figures
Tsukayama
2002
Y and Y Y N, N, Y Y Y Y Y Y Score=9. No serious flaws (High).
Outcome assessor was blinded, but
patient was not. So it is possible
that the blindness was broken, especially
because the outcomes are
subjective
Von
Mencke
1988
DK
DK
and
DK Y, N, Y N N N N N Score=2 (Low)
Wang
1996
DK and N DK Y, N, N DK N N DK DK Score=1 (Low). Not adequately
randomised. Doubts about reliability
of outcome measures
Wu 1991 N and N DK Y,N,N DK Y N Y DK Score=3 (Low). Not adequately
randomised. Doubts about reliability
of outcome measures
Yeung
2003
DK and Y Y N, N, Y Y Y Y Y Y Score=8. No serious flaws (High).
Outcome assessor was blinded, but
Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain (Review)
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