Improving informed choice about acupuncture and placebo interventions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2015.07.012
• Publication Date: 2015-12-20T04:15:28Z
• Authors: Felicity Bishop; Maddy Greville-Ha...; George Lewith; Lucy Yardley; Christina Liossi; Cynthia Graham; Peter White; Amy Din; Tim O’Riordan; Christine Bagg; Jennifer Bostock
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 150; 303; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health

Introduction: Patients need to be able to make informed choices about potential participation in medical treatments and trials for back pain. Yet research has shown that some patients hold misconceptions about treatments, and are not always provided with comprehensive information. This study asks: can providing comprehensive and empirically informed (‘enhanced’) information online about acupuncture and placebos improve informed choice about these interventions, compared with receiving ‘standard’ online information? Methods: First ‘enhanced’ online information pages about acupuncture and placebos were developed. 352 participants who had consulted with back pain in the last three years then took part in the study online to test these pages. Participants viewed either: (1) ‘enhanced’ acupuncture or ‘standard’ acupuncture content, and: (2) ‘enhanced’ placebo or ‘standard’ placebo content. Participants then completed self-rated measures of informed choice about these treatments. Preliminary results: Data for this study has not yet been analysed. A factorial 2 (acupuncture X placebo) by 2 (‘enhanced’ X ‘standard’ website) design will test for differences in informed choice across conditions. Conclusions: Research has shown that patients are not always given comprehensive information about medical treatments or trials. In developing ‘enhanced’ online information, we hope to improve informed choice about acupuncture and placebos, and, in doing so, highlight ways of enhancing information provision for patients making treatment decisions.