Evidence-Based Evaluation of Complementary Health Approaches for Pain Management in the United States

Advancing opioid stewardship in low-middle-income countries: challenges and opportunities

The increased utilization of opioids in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) presents a growing threat of opioid-related abuse, misuse and diversion. Pharmacists, as integral members of healthcare teams, are responsible for dispensing and monitoring opioid use and hold a pivotal role in opioid stewardship within LMICs. This commentary describes the potential and multifaceted roles of pharmacists in opioid stewardship in resource-constrained settings and highlights appropriate strategies for promoting responsible opioid utilization. Opioid stewardship involves prioritising evidence-based prescribing, management and practices for pain management. It includes measures such as incorporating prescription drug monitoring programmes for appropriate opioid prescription, implementing safe disposal through drug take-back programmes, promoting non-opioid pain management, addressing the opioid addiction stigma, tapering opioid dose, educating patients and caregivers, establishing drug information centers, providing rehabilitative services and integrating collaboration with communities and experts. The combined difficulties of restricted access to healthcare resources and services coupled with low levels of literacy worsen the susceptibility to opioid abuse, misuse, and diversion in LMICs. Early detection, assessment and implementation of interventions to optimise opioid use are imperative for ensuring safe and effective opioid utilization, thereby mitigating the risks of overdose and addiction. The involvement of pharmacists in promoting safe and effective opioid utilization through education, monitoring, collaboration, and policy advocacy serves as a critical component in bridging existing gaps in opioid stewardship within LMICs.

Prior acupuncture experience among elderly participants enrolled in a clinical trial of acupuncture for chronic low back pain: Implications for future trials

Background

The effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic low back pain (cLBP) has not been studied specifically in the 65-and-older population. To inform the validity and generalizability of future acupuncture studies among older adults, we characterized elderly participants' prior experience with and views toward acupuncture and tested for clinical and sociodemographic differences between acupuncture-naïve and non-naïve participants.

Methods

Data for this study were collected during the baseline telephone interview from the participants enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California site of an NIH-funded, multicenter clinical trial of acupuncture for cLBP in older adults.

Results

Nearly two-thirds (65.6 %) of participants surveyed reported they had previously received acupuncture treatment with the vast majority seeking acupuncture treatment for pain-related issues (84.8 %). The majority of these participants reported relatively modest levels of exposure to acupuncture with most participants (63.1 %) reporting fewer than 10 treatment sessions over their lifetimes. There were no significant differences in age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability scores, income levels, or pain levels between the acupuncture-naïve and non-naïve groups.

Conclusion

Contextual consideration for prior acupuncture utilization rates is warranted and may be higher than expected or previously reported. We found few differences in baseline characteristics between participants who were acupuncture-naïve and those with prior acupuncture experience; thus, future pragmatic clinical trials might relax previous acupuncture-use considerations in their recruitment criteria. For trials focused on acupuncture-naive patients, it may be more feasible to expand the definition of "acupuncture-naive" based on lifetime acupuncture visits or time since last treatment.

Trial registration

The protocol was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT04982315).

Development and feasibility of a mindfulness-based dance/movement therapy intervention for chronic low back pain

Introduction

Responding to the need for innovative, multi-modal, non-pharmacological strategies in chronic low back pain (cLBP) care, this article presents the development and a mixed methods feasibility trial of a manualized Mindfulness-based Dance/Movement Therapy (M-DMT) program for cLBP. The 12-week program is designed as a group therapy, integrating mindfulness principles, creative/expressive dance and movement, and psychoeducational content focused on cLBP management. This holistic program seeks to cultivate nonjudgmental awareness of pain experiences, challenge maladaptive pain-related beliefs, enhance emotional well-being, foster social support, and promote effective coping strategies for the daily challenges associated with cLBP.

Methods

The 12-week M-DMT intervention was administered to individuals with non-specific cLBP (N = 18, aged 51.7 ± 13.9 years, 72% female, 55% Black and 39% White). We assessed feasibility and acceptability through monitoring enrollment and retention rates, attendance, and adverse events. Moreover, we measured the intervention's credibility/expectancy, participants' perception of changes, and overall satisfaction. Additionally, we collected qualitative data, capturing participants' perspectives on the intervention's usefulness and perceived benefits. Specific benchmarks were established to gauge the successful feasibility and acceptability of the program.

Results

The adherence rate stood at 80%, with a perfect retention rate of 100%. The study successfully met the benchmarks for treatment acceptability and satisfaction criteria, with 61% of participants reporting "feeling better" or a "great deal better" after the intervention. No adverse events were observed. Participants found the intervention enjoyable and reported that it provided effective tools for cLBP and related symptoms. Notably, participants reported a decrease in fear-avoidance behaviors, increased motivation for physical activity, and a boost in self-efficacy for pain management.

Discussion

These encouraging findings establish a strong basis for considering the M-DMT intervention as a promising approach for cLBP management, warranting further investigation in larger-scale studies.

The Effect of St. John's Wort Oil (Hypericum Perforatum L.) in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled and Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Reducing pain and improving physical function are critical in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Although individuals use St. John's Wort oil to relieve pain due to osteoarthritis, no scientific research has been found investigating its effectiveness.

AIM

This study investigated the effect of St. John's Wort oil on pain intensity and physical functions in people with knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

This study adopted a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and qualitative mixed design. The sample consisted of 60 patients randomized into intervention (n = 30) and placebo control (n=30) groups. The experimental group participants were treated with topically St. John's Wort oil three times a week for 3 weeks, and the placebo control group participants were treated with olive oil three times a week for 3 weeks. Quantitative data were collected using a patient identification form, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Visual Analogue Scale. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS

The experimental group had a significantly lower mean Visual Analog Scale score in the first, third, and fourth follow-ups than the control group. The experimental group had significantly lower mean WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-stiffness, and WOMAC-physical function subscale scores in the last follow-up than in the first follow-up. The qualitative data agreed with the quantitative data.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that St. John's Wort oil helps people with knee osteoarthritis feel less pain and become physically more active. Additional research is warranted to better understand the effect of St. John's Wort oil on pain intensity and physical functions in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Culturally Adapting Mind-Body Interventions for Black Individuals with Chronic Pain: Arguments and Recommendations Towards a Task-Sharing Approach

Compared to non-Hispanic White individuals, non-Hispanic Black Individuals report worse chronic pain from a variety of medical issues. Among the options for non-pharmacological pain treatment, mind-body interventions (MBI) are a promising modality to help Black individuals manage their chronic pain effectively. MBIs such as mindfulness meditation improve chronic pain and chronic pain-related outcomes by shifting the individual's perception of pain away from stress-related cognitive appraisals, emotional reactions, and behaviors. MBIs may also address disparities in chronic pain outcomes between Black and White individuals because of their contextual overlap with (1) centering and contemplative prayer, (2) racial empowerment, and (3) social support. Despite this overlap, the demand for MBIs among Black individuals has generally been low due to lingering access and acceptability barriers. To reduce these barriers for Black individuals with chronic pain, we must adopt a community-engaged approach and culturally adapt MBIs for the specific historic, environmental, financial, and psychosocial needs of Black individuals. Example adaptations include increasing Black representation among MBI instructors, reducing geographical access barriers, accommodating the financial and personal realities of Black adults, and explicitly allowing relevant attitudes, practices, and terms.

The effect of sham acupuncture can differ depending on the points needled in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective

In sham acupuncture-controlled acupuncture clinical trials, although sham acupuncture techniques are different from those of verum acupuncture, the same acupuncture points are often used for verum and sham acupuncture, raising the question of whether sham acupuncture is an appropriate placebo. We aimed to examine the effects of sham and verum acupuncture according to the points needled (same or different between verum and sham acupuncture) in knee osteoarthritis.

Methods

Ten databases were searched to find randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of verum acupuncture with sham acupuncture or waiting lists on knee osteoarthritis. Sham acupuncture was classified as using the same acupuncture points as those in verum acupuncture (SATV) or using sham points (SATS). A frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated.

Results

A total of 10 RCTs involving 1628 participants were included. Verum acupuncture was significantly superior to SATS but not different from SATV in terms of pain reduction. Additionally, SATV was significantly superior to the waiting list. For physical function, no difference were found between verum acupuncture, SATV, and SATS. The certainty of evidence was low to moderate.

Conclusion

For knee osteoarthritis, the pain reduction effect of acupuncture may differ according to the needling points of sham acupuncture, and the control group should be established according to the specific aim of the study design and treatment mechanism.

Clinical Effectiveness of Craniosacral Therapy in Patients with Headache Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the effectiveness of craniosacral therapy in improving pain and disability among patients with headache disorders.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Osteopathic Medicine Digital Library databases were searched in March 2023.

REVIEW METHODS

Two independent reviewers searched the databases and extracted data from randomized controlled trials comparing craniosacral therapy with control or sham interventions. The same reviewers assessed the methodological quality and the risk of bias using the PEDro scale and the Cochrane Collaboration tool, respectively. Grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluations was used to rate the certainty of the evidence. Meta-analyses were conducted using random effects models using RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

The searches retrieved 735 studies, and four studies were finally included. The craniosacral therapy provided statistically significant but clinically unimportant change on pain intensity (Mean difference = -1.10; 95% CI: -1.85, -0.35; I2: 44%), and no change on disability or headache effect (Standardized Mean Difference = -0.34; 95% CI -0.70, 0.01; I2: 26%). The certainty of the evidence was downgraded to very low.

CONCLUSION

Very low certainty of evidence suggests that craniosacral therapy produces clinically unimportant effects on pain intensity, whereas no significant effects were observed in disability or headache effect.

Measuring Patient-Reported Use and Outcomes From Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies: Development of the Complementary and Integrative Health Therapy Patient Experience Survey

Background

Assessing the use and effectiveness of complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies via survey can be complicated given CIH therapies are used in various locations and formats, the dosing required to have an effect is unclear, the potential health and well-being outcomes are many, and describing CIH therapies can be challenging. Few surveys assessing CIH therapy use and effectiveness exist, and none sufficiently reflect these complexities.

Objective

In a large-scale Veterans Health Administration (VA) quality improvement effort, we developed the "Complementary and Integrative Health Therapy Patient Experience Survey", a longitudinal, electronic patient self-administered survey to comprehensively assess CIH therapy use and outcomes.

Methods

We obtained guidance from the literature, subject matter experts, and Veteran patients who used CIH therapies in designing the survey. As a validity check, we completed cognitive testing and interviews with those patients. We conducted the survey (March 2021-April 2023), inviting 15,608 Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain with a recent CIH appointment or referral identified in VA electronic medical records (EMR) to participate. As a second validity check, we compared VA EMR data and patient self-reports of CIH therapy utilization a month after survey initiation and again at survey conclusion.

Results

The 64-item, electronic survey assesses CIH dosing (amount and timing), delivery format and location, provider location, and payor. It also assesses 7 patient-reported outcomes (pain, global mental health, global physical health, depression, quality of life, stress, and meaning/purpose in life), and 3 potential mediators (perceived health competency, healthcare engagement, and self-efficacy for managing diseases). The survey took 17 minutes on average to complete and had a baseline response rate of 45.3%. We found high degrees of concordance between self-reported and EMR data for all therapies except meditation.

Conclusions

Validly assessing patient-reported CIH therapy use and outcomes is complex, but possible.

Mapping Evidence-Based Non-Opioid and Non-Pharmacological Pain Management Modalities Across Minnesota: The Non-Opioid Pain Alleviation Information Network Project

Objective: The Non-Opioid Pain Alleviation Information Network (NOPAINMN) project was designed to identify, consolidate, and map evidence-based non-opioid and non-pharmacological pain management complementary and integrative health (CIH) modalities for chronic pain management across Minnesota into a searchable and informational website (www.nopainmn.org). Methods: The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health's Pain Task Force White Paper identifying evidence-based research of non-pharmacological pain practice (NPPC) was reviewed and referenced. National and state certifying boards and accrediting organizations for NPPC modalities were accessed to identify Minnesota-based NPPC providers' name, business/health-system affiliation, address, contact information, and credentials. The NOPAINMN website displays these data in a consumer-facing website with searchable fields such as NPPC modality type, and location with varying distances. The website was β-tested by practitioners and stakeholders for optimization. Eight main NPPC modalities and their respective subcategories were identified and mapped: Acupuncture; Integrative Medical Care (Functional medicine consultation and Integrative medicine consultation); Massage Therapy; Mind-Body Therapies (Biofeedback, Clinical Hypnosis, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Music Therapy); Movement Therapies (Tai Chi, qigong, and Yoga Therapy); Psychology (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy); Rehabilitative Therapies (Physical and Occupational Therapy); and Spinal Manipulation. Results: All information compiled resulted in 17,155 providers/practitioners. Physical Therapy had the greatest number of reported providers (n = 5224), followed by Occupational Therapy (n = 3792), Psychology (n = 3324), Chiropractic (n = 3033), Acupuncture (n = 591), and Massage Therapy (n = 544). The Resource Map included 56 major health systems, 686 facilities, 2651 solo or private group practices, and 14 academic training schools. With web-based cross-referencing, providers and facilities were affiliated and linked with health systems to produce an interconnected mapping system. β-Testing with patients found that the website was reported as relatively easy to use and informative. Conclusion: The website was created to assist individuals, health care providers, insurance carriers, and health care facilities in finding evidence-based information and resources on NPPC to guide, support, and proactively manage and engage chronic pain patients across Minnesota.

Changes in Use of Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies at the Veterans Affairs: Findings from a Whole Health System Pilot Program

Introduction: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a Whole Health System pilot program in 18 VA "Flagship" medical centers in 2018 in part to expand the provision of complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies. Materials and methods: A longitudinal quasi-experimental design was used to examine Veterans' use of at least 1 of 12 CIH therapies 2 years after initiation of the Flagship pilot program compared with the year before the program started. The sample included Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain with at least one visit to a VA primary care, mental health care, or pain clinic in each of the 3 study years. A population-average logit model was used to measure changes in the percentage of Veterans using at least one the CIH therapies over time. Results: Among Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain receiving health care at Flagship sites, 9.7% used a CIH therapy before the Flagship program initiation, whereas 14.2% used a therapy in the second year of the program (46.0% increase). In comparison, CIH therapy use among Veterans at non-Flagship sites increased from 10.3% to 12.0% over the same period (16.5% increase). Results from the population-average logit model show that Veterans at Flagship sites were significantly more likely to be CIH therapy users in the first (p < 0.001) and second (p < 0.001) years of the implementation compared with non-Flagship sites. Discussion: The Flagship pilot program was successful in terms of increasing the use of CIH therapies among Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with non-Flagship sites. Conclusions: The Whole Health System implementation that included financial incentives, education, and other support to 18 VA "Flagship" medical centers helped to increase the use of CIH therapies in the VA. Future research should examine which of these efforts were most effective in expanding CIH therapy provision.

Extracting Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches in Electronic Health Records

Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) has gained increasing popularity in the past decades. While the evidence bases to support them are growing, there is still a gap in understanding their effects and potential adverse events using real-world data. The overall goal of this study is to represent information pertinent to both psychological and physical CIH approaches (specifically, using examples of music therapy, chiropractic, and aquatic exercise in this study) in an electronic health record (EHR) system. We also aim to evaluate the ability of existing natural language processing (NLP) systems to identify CIH approaches. A total of 300 notes were randomly selected and manually annotated. Annotations were made for status, symptom, and frequency of each approach. This set of annotations was used as a gold standard to evaluate the performance of NLP systems used in this study (specifically BioMedICUS, MetaMap, and cTAKES) for extracting CIH concepts. Venn diagram was used to investigate the consistency of medical records searching by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and CIH approaches keywords in SQL. Since CPT codes usually do not have specific mentions of CIH approaches, the Venn diagram had less overlap with those found in clinical notes for all three CIH therapies. The three NLP systems achieved 0.41 in average lenient match F1-score in all three CIH approaches, respectively. BioMedICUS achieved the best performance in aquatic exercise with an F1-score of 0.66. This study contributes to the overall representation of CIH in clinical note and lays a foundation for using EHR for clinical research for CIH approaches.

Hypnosis in the operating room: are anesthesiology teams interested and well-informed?

BACKGROUND

Hypnosis can be a beneficial complementary anesthesia technique for a variety of surgical procedures. Despite favorable scientific evidence, hypnosis is still rarely used in the operating room. Obstacles to implementation could be a lack of interest or training, misconceptions, as well as limited knowledge amongst anesthesiology teams. Hence, this study aimed to assess the interest, training, beliefs, and knowledge about hypnosis in the operating room staff.

DESIGN

A questionnaire with 21-items, based on a prior survey, was set up on an online platform. The medical and nursing anesthesiology staff of four Swiss academic and large regional hospitals (N = 754) were invited to participate anonymously through e-mails sent by their hierarchy. Results were analyzed quantitatively.

RESULTS

Between June, 2020 and August, 2021 353 answers were collected (47% response rate). Most (92%) were aware that hypnosis needs specific training, with 14% trained. A large majority of the untrained staff wished to enroll for conversational hypnosis training. There was a strong agreement for hypnosis playing a role in anesthesia. Nevertheless, many of these professionals believed that hypnosis has a limited field of action (53%) or that it would be too time consuming (33%). The reduction of misconceptions was based more on exposure to hypnosis than on training.

CONCLUSION

Overall, anesthesia providers' attitude was in favor of using hypnosis in the operating room. Misconceptions such as a prolongation of the procedure, alteration of consent, lack of acceptability for patients, and limited indications were identified as potential barriers. These deserve to be challenged through proper dissemination of the recent scientific literature and exposure to practice.

Thalamocortical Mechanisms Underlying Real and Imagined Acupuncture

Both acupuncture and imagery have shown potential for chronic pain management. However, the mechanisms underlying their analgesic effects remain unclear. This study aims to explore the thalamocortical mechanisms underlying acupuncture and video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT), a combination of acupuncture and guided imagery, using the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of three thalamic subdivisions-the ventral posterolateral thalamus (VPL), mediodorsal thalamus (MD), and motor thalamus subregion (Mthal)-associated with somatosensory, limbic, and motor circuity. Twenty-seven healthy individuals participated in a within-subject randomized crossover design study. Results showed that compared to sham acupuncture, real acupuncture altered the rsFC between the thalamus and default mode network (DMN) (i.e., mPFC, PCC, and precuneus), as well as the prefrontal and somatosensory cortex (SI/SII). Compared to the VGAIT control, VGAIT demonstrated greater rsFC between the thalamus and key nodes within the interoceptive network (i.e., anterior insula, ACC, PFC, and SI/SII), as well as the motor and sensory cortices (i.e., M1, SMA, and temporal/occipital cortices). Furthermore, compared to real acupuncture, VGAIT demonstrated increased rsFC between the thalamus (VPL/MD/Mthal) and task-positive network (TPN). Further correlations between differences in rsFC and changes in the heat or pressure pain threshold were also observed. These findings suggest that both acupuncture- and VGAIT-induced analgesia are associated with thalamocortical networks. Elucidating the underlying mechanism of VGAIT and acupuncture may facilitate their development, particularly VGAIT, which may be used as a potential remote-delivered pain management approach.

Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches and Pain Care Quality in the Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Setting: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis

Background: Complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches have been recommended in national and international clinical guidelines for chronic pain management. We set out to determine whether exposure to CIH approaches is associated with pain care quality (PCQ) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care setting. Methods: We followed a cohort of 62,721 Veterans with newly diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders between October 2016 and September 2017 over 1-year. PCQ scores were derived from primary care progress notes using natural language processing. CIH exposure was defined as documentation of acupuncture, chiropractic or massage therapies by providers. Propensity scores (PSs) were used to match one control for each Veteran with CIH exposure. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations between CIH exposure and PCQ scores, accounting for potential selection and confounding bias. Results: CIH was documented for 14,114 (22.5%) Veterans over 16,015 primary care clinic visits during the follow-up period. The CIH exposure group and the 1:1 PS-matched control group achieved superior balance on all measured baseline covariates, with standardized differences ranging from 0.000 to 0.045. CIH exposure was associated with an adjusted rate ratio (aRR) of 1.147 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.142, 1.151) on PCQ total score (mean: 8.36). Sensitivity analyses using an alternative PCQ scoring algorithm (aRR: 1.155; 95% CI: 1.150-1.160) and redefining CIH exposure by chiropractic alone (aRR: 1.118; 95% CI: 1.110-1.126) derived consistent results. Discussion: Our data suggest that incorporating CIH approaches may reflect higher overall quality of care for patients with musculoskeletal pain seen in primary care settings, supporting VHA initiatives and the Declaration of Astana to build comprehensive, sustainable primary care capacity for pain management. Future investigation is warranted to better understand whether and to what degree the observed association may reflect the therapeutic benefits patients actually received or other factors such as empowering provider-patient education and communication about these approaches.

We Built it, But Did They Come: Veterans' Use of VA Healthcare System-Provided Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches

BACKGROUND

Interest in complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches, such as meditation, yoga, and acupuncture, continues to grow. The evidence of effectiveness for some CIH approaches has increased in the last decade, especially for pain, with many being recommended in varying degrees in national guidelines. To offer nonpharmacological health management options and meet patient demand, the nation's largest integrated healthcare system, the Veterans Health Administration (VA), greatly expanded their provision of CIH approaches recently.

OBJECTIVE

This paper addressed the questions of how many VA patients might use CIH approaches and chiropractic care if they were available at modest to no fee, and would patients with some health conditions or characteristics be more likely than others to use these therapies.

DESIGN

Using electronic medical records, we conducted a national, three-year, retrospective analysis of VA patients' use of eleven VA-covered therapies: chiropractic care, acupuncture, Battlefield Acupuncture, biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, guided imagery, massage therapy, meditation, Tai Chi/Qigong, and yoga.

PARTICIPANTS

We created a national cohort of veterans using VA healthcare from October 2016-September 2019.

KEY RESULTS

Veterans' use of these approaches increased 70% in three years. By 2019, use was 5.7% among all VA patients, but highest among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (13.9%), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 10.6%), depression (10.4%), anxiety (10.2%), or obesity (7.8%). The approach used varied by age and race/ethnicity, with women being uniformly more likely than men to use each approach. Patients having chronic musculoskeletal pain, obesity, anxiety, depression, or PTSD were more likely than others to use each of the approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

Veterans' use of some approaches rapidly grew recently and was robust, especially among patients most in need. This information might help shape federal/state health policy on the provision of evidence-based CIH approaches and guide other healthcare institutions considering providing them.

Recent trends in acupuncture for chronic pain: A bibliometric analysis and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture has been increasingly used in patients with chronic pain, yet no bibliometric analysis of acupuncture studies for chronic pain exists.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the characteristics, hotspots and frontiers of global scientific output in acupuncture research for chronic pain over the past decade.

METHODS

We retrieved publications on acupuncture for chronic pain published from 2011 to 2022 from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-expanded) of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The co-occurrence relationships of journals/countries/institutions/authors/keywords were performed using VOSviewer V6.1.2, and CiteSpace V1.6.18 analyzed the clustering and burst analysis of keywords and co-cited references.

RESULTS

A total of 1616 articles were retrieved. The results showed that the number of annual publications on acupuncture for chronic pain has increased over time, with the main types of literature being original articles (1091 articles, 67.5 %) and review articles (351 articles, 21.7 %). China had the most publications (598 articles, 37 %), with Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (93 articles, 5.8 %) and Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ranked first (169 articles, 10.45 %) as the most prolific affiliate and journal, respectively. Liang FR was the most productive author (43 articles), and the article published by Vickers Andrew J in 2012 had the highest number of citations (625 citations). Recently, "acupuncture" and "pain" appeared most frequently. The hot topics in acupuncture for chronic pain based on keywords clustering analysis were experimental design, hot diseases, interventions, and mechanism studies. According to burst analysis, the main research frontiers were functional connectivity (FC), depression, and risk.

CONCLUSION

This study provides an in-depth perspective on acupuncture for chronic pain studies, revealing pivotal points, research hotspots, and research trends. Valuable ideas are provided for future research activities.

Comparative effectiveness of acupuncture in sham-controlled trials for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objectives

Although many trials have assessed the effect of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), its efficacy remains controversial. Sham acupuncture techniques are regarded as representative control interventions in acupuncture trials and sometimes incorporate the use of sham devices (base units) to support a non-penetrating needle. To achieve successful blinding, these trials also use acupuncture base units in the verum acupuncture group. Base units are not used in real-world clinical settings. We aimed to assess the effect sizes of verum and sham acupuncture for KOA in sham-controlled trials with or without base units.

Methods

A total of 10 electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of verum manual acupuncture and sham acupuncture for the treatment of KOA were searched for articles published before April 12, 2022. The primary outcome was pain intensity, and the secondary outcomes included physical function. The first assessment after the end of treatment was chosen for analysis. Effect sizes are reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and Egger's test. The quality of evidence for estimates was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.

Results

Fifteen RCTs were included. There was generally a low risk of bias except for the difficulty in blinding acupuncture therapists (performance bias). Compared to verum acupuncture in sham-controlled trials using base units, verum acupuncture in sham-controlled trials without base units was more effective for improving pain (SMD -0.56, 95% CI -1.09 to -0.03) and function (SMD -0.73, 95% CI -1.36 to -0.10) in KOA. The quality of evidence for network estimates was moderate to low due to the risk of bias and imprecision.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that verum acupuncture in different types of sham-controlled trials has different effect sizes for KOA. Because base units are not used in clinical settings, the results of verum acupuncture in sham-controlled trials with base units need to be interpreted carefully.

Systematic review registration

https://www.researchregistry.com/browse-the-registry#registryofsystematicreviewsmeta-analyses/registryofsystematicreviewsmeta-analysesdetails/6269f962606c5e001fd8790c/, identifier reviewregistry1351.

Bibliometric Analysis of 100 Most Highly Cited Publications on Acupuncture for Migraine

Background

Migraine is a serious global health concern that imposed a huge economic burden on social health care. Over the past few decades, the analgesic effects of acupuncture have been widely recognized, and there is a growing body of research on acupuncture for migraine. Citation analysis is a branch of bibliometrics that helps researchers analyze and identify historical or landmark studies within the scientific literature. Currently, there is no analysis of the 100 most highly cited publications on acupuncture for migraine.

Methods

The 100 most highly cited publications on acupuncture for migraine were screened using the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace and VOSviewer programs were used for bibliometric analysis.

Results

A total of 493 publications on acupuncture for migraine were identified. 100 of the most highly cited publications on acupuncture for migraine were published from 1984-2020. These publications were cited 6142 times with an h-index of 44 and 84% were original articles. The highest frequency of citations was 416. A total of 335 authors were involved in the study with 37 lead authors. 212 institutions from 20 countries contributed to the 100 most highly cited publications. The most published studies came from the United States (n=36), followed by China (n=27) and Germany (n=26). The Technical University of Munich published the largest number of papers (n = 15). Top-cited publications mainly came from the Headache (n=13, citations=582). Neuroimaging is gradually emerging as a hot topic of research.

Conclusion

This is the first bibliometric analysis to offer a thorough list of the 100 most highly cited papers on acupuncture for migraine, demonstrating significant progress and emerging trends in this field to assist researchers in determining the direction for further research.

Group Acupuncture Therapy With Yoga Therapy for Chronic Neck, Low Back, and Osteoarthritis Pain in Safety Net Settings for an Underserved Population: A Feasibility Pilot Study

Background

Acupuncture and yoga have both been shown to be effective in chronic pain. Underrepresented populations have poorer pain outcomes with less access to effective pain care.

Objective

To assess the feasibility of bundling group acupuncture with yoga therapy for chronic neck, back or osteoarthritis pain in safety net settings.

Methods

This was a feasibility pilot in Bronx and Harlem primary care community health centers. Participants with chronic neck, back or osteoarthritis pain received acupuncture and yoga therapy over a 10-week period. Participants received 10 weekly acupuncture treatments in group setting; with Yoga therapy sessions beginning immediately following the 3rd session. Primary outcome was pain interference and pain intensity on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI); Outcomes were measured at baseline, 10-week close of intervention, and 24-week follow-up.

Results

93 patients were determined to be eligible and completed the baseline interview. The majority of participants were non-White and Medicaid recipients. 78 (84%) completed the intervention and 10-week survey, and 58 (62%) completed the 24-week post intervention survey. Participants received an average number of 6.5 acupuncture sessions (out of a possible 10), and 4 yoga sessions (out of a possible 8) over the 10-week intervention. Patients showed statistically significant improvements in pain at the close of the intervention and at a somewhat lesser rate, at 24-weeks post intervention. Challenges included telephone outreach and site coordination integrating acupuncture with yoga therapy. The trial also had to be stopped early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions

Bundling acupuncture therapy and yoga therapy is feasible for an underrepresented population with chronic pain in urban community health centers with preliminary indications of acceptability and benefit to participants.

A bibliometric analysis of traditional Chinese non-pharmacological therapies in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis from 2012 to 2022

Objective

The benefits of traditional Chinese non-pharmacological therapies in the treatment of Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) are receiving increasing attention. Therefore, this study aims to systematically analyze the global research on the treatment of KOA by Chinese traditional non-pharmacological therapies using bibliometric analysis and present the results with a knowledge map form.

Methods

Literature related to traditional Chinese non-pharmacological therapies used in the treatment of KOA from 2012 to 2022 was searched from the Web of Science core database and PubMed database. CiteSpace, SCImago Graphica and VOSviewer were used to extract nations, institutions, journals, authors, references, keywords, as well as the most widely used acupoints, therapies and evaluation indexes.

Results

A total of 375 literature have been included. 32 countries around the world have participated in the research. China, the United States, and Europe were at the center of the global cooperation network. The most prolific institutions and authors were from China represented by Cun-zhi Liu and Jian-feng Tu of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, the institution with the highest cited frequency was University of York, and "Osteoarthritis Cartilage" was the most frequently cited journal. The most frequently cited literature was "OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and poly articular osteoarthritis." 22 kinds of Chinese non-pharmacological therapies were used to treat KOA, among which acupuncture was the most commonly used one, and ST36 (Zusanli) and WOMAC were the most commonly selected acupoint and evaluation index.

Conclusion

In the past decade, the value of Chinese non-pharmacological therapies in the treatment of KOA has received widespread attention. It was a common concern of global researchers to relieve the pain of KOA patients and restore the quality of life. Under the background that acupuncture accounts for a relatively high proportion, the next step may consider how to make the balanced development of a variety of Chinese non-pharmacological therapies. In addition, the problem of how to eliminate the placebo effect maybe the direction of future research.

Iliopsoas hematoma secondary to small needle scalpel for the treatment of nonspecific low back pain: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) is one of the most common symptoms which can happen all ages and it accounts for the majority of low back pain (LBP). Current clinical studies have shown that rest, physical therapy, acupuncture (including small needle scalpel) and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs are effective treatments for NSLBP. However, the safety of small needle scalpel for treatment of NSLBP was reported rarely.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 63-year-old female patient was referred to the emergency department for right lower back pain, right lower quadrant ache, weakness of flexion right hip joints and worsening pain with walking after the treatment of small needle scalpel, which was performed by a rural doctor; the symptoms had been lasting for 9 hours.

DIAGNOSIS

She was diagnosed with traumatic iliopsoas hematoma because she experienced increased back pain after accepting small needle scalpel. Clopidogrel was stopped and the patient did not received a blood transfusion and just monitored Blood routine examination, liver and function, coagulation function after admission.

INTERVENTIONS

She had rest in bed absolutely for 3 days after admission. On the fourth day, she restarted taking Clopidogrel 75 mg every day and has gradually increased time for ambulation. She was discharged home and was ambulating with the help of a walking frame on day 7 and her follow-up abdominal CT scan on day 11 revealed reduced slightly hematoma. She was treated with rest, and showed an gradual recovery in approximately 3 weeks.

OUTCOMES

At day 85, the patient's LBP symptoms had completely disappeared and the result of liver function, renal function, coagulation function, blood routine was normal.

CONCLUSION

Small needle scalpel is a form of acupuncture. In China, small needle scalpel therapy has been used to treat various kinds of chronic pain. Anticoagulation therapy is a risk for bleeding, and patients who used Clopidogrel prepare to adopting small needle scalpel needs to be very cautious.

Effectiveness of Anapana, Body scan and Metta meditation techniques on chronic neck and shoulder region pain and disability in adult patients in Sri Lanka: study protocol for a cluster clinic-level randomised controlled trial

Background

Chronic neck and shoulder region pain affects many people around the world. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of three 8-week meditation training programmes (each using a different meditation technique: Anapana, Body scan or Metta) on pain and disability in a patient population affected with chronic neck and shoulder region pain, with a usual care control group and with each other.

Methods

This four-arm parallel clinic-level randomised controlled trial will be conducted with male and female patients aged 18–65 years, who are affected with chronic neck and shoulder region pain, and who attend one of four clinics held on four different days of the week in a single medical centre in the Colombo North region, Sri Lanka. Clinics will be considered as clusters and randomly allocated to intervention and control arms.

Data will be collected using validated questionnaires, clinical examinations and focus groups. To compare primary (differences in changes in pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) at 8 weeks) and secondary (differences in changes in pain, physical disability, range of movement and quality of life (SF-36) at 4 and 12 weeks) outcomes between groups, a two-way ANOVA will be used if data are normally distributed. If data are not normally distributed, a nonparametric equivalent (Kruskal-Wallis) will be used. Focus group transcriptions will be thematically analysed using the Richie and Spencer model of qualitative data analysis.

Discussion

This is a four-arm trial which describes how three different 8-week meditation technique (Anapana, Body Scan, Metta) interventions will be implemented with adult patients affected with chronic neck and shoulder region pain. The effectiveness of each meditation intervention on the pain, physical and psychosocial disabilities of patients will be compared between groups and with a usual care control group. The results of this study will contribute to recommendations for future meditation interventions for chronic neck and shoulder pain.

Trial registration

ISRCTN12146140. Registered on 20 August 2021.

Trends in the Use of Opioids vs Nonpharmacologic Treatments in Adults With Pain, 2011-2019

IMPORTANCE

Chronic pain prevalence among US adults increased between 2010 and 2019. Yet little is known about trends in the use of prescription opioids and nonpharmacologic alternatives in treating pain.

OBJECTIVES

To compare annual trends in the use of prescription opioids, nonpharmacologic alternatives, both treatments, and neither treatment; compare estimates for the annual use of acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy; and estimate the association between calendar year and pain treatment based on the severity of pain interference.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A serial cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to estimate the use of outpatient services by cancer-free adults with chronic or surgical pain between calendar years 2011 and 2019. Data analysis was performed from December 29, 2021, to August 5, 2022.

EXPOSURES

Calendar year (2011-2019) was the primary exposure.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The association between calendar year and mutually exclusive pain treatments (opioid vs nonpharmacologic vs both vs neither treatment) was examined. A secondary outcome was the prevalence of nonpharmacologic treatments (acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy). All analyses were stratified by pain type.

RESULTS

Among the unweighted 46 420 respondents, 9643 (20.4% weighted) received surgery and 36 777 (79.6% weighted) did not. Weighted percentages indicated that 41.7% of the respondents were aged 45 to 64 years and 55.0% were women. There were significant trends in the use of pain treatments after adjusting for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, health conditions, and pain severity. For example, exclusive use of nonpharmacologic treatments increased in 2019 for both cohorts (chronic pain: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.72; 95% CI, 2.30-3.21; surgical pain: aOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.13-2.08) compared with 2011. The use of neither treatment decreased in 2019 for both cohorts (chronic pain: aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.37-0.49; surgical pain: aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46-0.75) compared with 2011. Among nonpharmacologic treatments, chiropractors and physical therapists were the most common licensed healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among cancer-free adults with pain, the annual prevalence of nonpharmacologic pain treatments increased and the prevalent use of neither opioids nor nonpharmacologic therapy decreased for both chronic and surgical pain cohorts. These findings suggest that, although access to outpatient nonpharmacologic treatments is increasing, more severe pain interference may inhibit this access.

Palliative Care Early in the Care Continuum among Patients with Serious Respiratory Illness: An Official ATS/AAHPM/HPNA/SWHPN Policy Statement

Background: Patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers suffer considerable burdens, and palliative care is a fundamental right for anyone who needs it. However, the overwhelming majority of patients do not receive timely palliative care before the end of life, despite robust evidence for improved outcomes. Goals: This policy statement by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and partnering societies advocates for improved integration of high-quality palliative care early in the care continuum for patients with serious respiratory illness and their caregivers and provides clinicians and policymakers with a framework to accomplish this. Methods: An international and interprofessional expert committee, including patients and caregivers, achieved consensus across a diverse working group representing pulmonary-critical care, palliative care, bioethics, health law and policy, geriatrics, nursing, physiotherapy, social work, pharmacy, patient advocacy, psychology, and sociology. Results: The committee developed fundamental values, principles, and policy recommendations for integrating palliative care in serious respiratory illness care across seven domains: 1) delivery models, 2) comprehensive symptom assessment and management, 3) advance care planning and goals of care discussions, 4) caregiver support, 5) health disparities, 6) mass casualty events and emergency preparedness, and 7) research priorities. The recommendations encourage timely integration of palliative care, promote innovative primary and secondary or specialist palliative care delivery models, and advocate for research and policy initiatives to improve the availability and quality of palliative care for patients and their caregivers. Conclusions: This multisociety policy statement establishes a framework for early palliative care in serious respiratory illness and provides guidance for pulmonary-critical care clinicians and policymakers for its proactive integration.

A Series of Virtual Interventions for Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Feasibility Pilot Study for a Series of Personalized (N-of-1) Trials

Chronic lower back pain (CLBP) affects 25% of U.S. adults and is associated with high costs due to physician visits and reduced productivity. Research shows that massage and yoga can be effective nonpharmacological treatments for CLBP, but the feasibility, scalability, individual treatment, and adverse-event heterogeneity of these treatments are unknown. The current study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a series of personalized (N-of-1) interventions for virtual delivery of massage and yoga or usual-care treatment for CLBP in 57 participants. We hypothesized that this study would provide valuable information about implementing a virtual, personalized platform for randomized controlled trials of personalized (N-of-1) interventions among individuals with CLBP. The study will do so by determining participants' ratings of usability and satisfaction with the virtual, personalized intervention delivery system and, in the long term, identifying ways to integrate these personalized trials into patient care. Of the 57 participants enrolled, two withdrew from the study and were not eligible to receive the primary outcome assessment. Thirty-seven of the remaining 55 participants (67.3%) completed satisfaction surveys comprising the System Usability Scale (SUS) and items assessing satisfaction with the components of the personalized trial. Participants rated the usability of the personalized trial as excellent (average SUS score = 85.8), 95% were satisfied with the personalized trial overall, and 100% stated they would recommend the trial to others. These results suggest that personalized trials of massage and yoga are highly feasible and acceptable to participants with CLBP.

Effectiveness of a whole health model of care emphasizing complementary and integrative health on reducing opioid use among patients with chronic pain

Background

The opioid crisis has necessitated new approaches to managing chronic pain. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Whole Health model of care, with its focus on patient empowerment and emphasis on nonpharmacological approaches to pain management, is a promising strategy for reducing patients’ use of opioids. We aim to assess whether the VHA’s Whole Health pilot program impacted longitudinal patterns of opioid utilization among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

A cohort of 4,869 Veterans with chronic pain engaging in Whole Health services was compared with a cohort of 118,888 Veterans receiving conventional care. All patients were continuously enrolled in VHA care from 10/2017 through 3/2019 at the 18 VHA medical centers participating in the pilot program. Inverse probability of treatment weighting and multivariate analyses were used to adjust for observable differences in patient characteristics between exposures and conventional care. Patients exposed to Whole Health services were offered nine complementary and integrative health therapies alone or in combination with novel Whole Health services including goal-setting clinical encounters, Whole Health coaching, and personal health planning.

Main measures

The main measure was change over an 18-month period in prescribed opioid doses starting from the six-month period prior to qualifying exposure.

Results

Prescribed opioid doses decreased by -12.0% in one year among Veterans who began complementary and integrative health therapies compared to similar Veterans who used conventional care; -4.4% among Veterans who used only Whole Health services such as goal setting and coaching compared to conventional care, and -8.5% among Veterans who used both complementary and integrative health therapies combined with Whole Health services compared to conventional care.

Conclusions

VHA’s Whole Health national pilot program was associated with greater reductions in prescribed opioid doses compared to secular trends associated with conventional care, especially when Veterans were connected with complementary and integrative health therapies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-08388-2.

Reasons Office-Based Physicians in the United States Recommend Common Complementary Health Approaches to Patients: An Exploratory Study Using a National Survey

Objective: To examine the reasons why office-based physicians do or do not recommend four selected complementary health approaches to their patients in the context of the Andersen Behavioral Model. Design: Descriptive estimates of physician-level data from the 2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) Physician Induction Interview, a nationally representative survey of office-based physicians (N = 5622, weighted response rate = 59.7%). Setting/Location: The United States. Outcome measures: Reasons for the recommendation or lack thereof to patients for: herbs and other non-vitamin supplements, chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture, and mind-body therapies (including meditation, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation). Differences by physician sex and medical specialty were described. Results: For each of the four complementary health approaches, more than half of the physicians who made recommendations indicated that they were influenced by scientific evidence in peer-reviewed journals (ranging from 52.0% for chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation [95% confidence interval, CI = 47.6-56.3] to 71.3% for herbs and other non-vitamin supplements [95% CI = 66.9-75.4]). More than 60% of all physicians recommended each of the four complementary health approaches because of patient requests. A higher percentage of female physicians reported evidence in peer-reviewed journals as a rationale for recommending herbs and non-vitamin supplements or chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation when compared with male physicians (herbs and non-vitamin supplements: 78.8% [95% CI = 72.4-84.3] vs. 66.6% [95% CI = 60.8-72.2]; chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation: 62.3% [95% CI = 54.7-69.4] vs. 47.5% [95% CI = 42.3-52.7]). For each of the four complementary health approaches, a lack of perceived benefit was the most frequently reported reason by both sexes for not recommending. Lack of information sources was reported more often by female versus male physicians as a reason to not recommend herbs and non-vitamin supplements (31.4% [95% CI = 26.8-36.3] vs. 23.4% [95% CI = 21.0-25.9]). Conclusions: There are limited nationally representative data on the reasons as to why office-based physicians decide to recommend complementary health approaches to patients. Developing a more nuanced understanding of influencing factors in physicians' decision making regarding complementary health approaches may better inform researchers and educators, and aid physicians in making evidence-based recommendations for patients.

Isn't There Room for Music in Chronic Pain Management?

Chronic pain with its comorbidities, such as depression, insomnia, and social deprivation, is a major cause of disability and health-economic burden. Insufficient response to pain medication and potentially serious adverse effects have led the majority of chronic pain patients to seek relief from non-pharmacological remedies. Along with this trend, pain research has paid increasing interest in critical evaluation of various complementary treatments. Music-based treatments have emerged as an efficacious and safe means to enhance the management of acute and chronic pain. We review the current position of music-based interventions in the treatment of chronic pain and present explanations for the analgesic effects of music through modulation of the primary nociception and discuss the contribution of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system to the affective component of pain perception. We propose ways to translate the novel theoretical understanding into clinical practice in different health care settings, primary health care in particular, and discuss the preconditions of successful implementation. We argue that music interventions provide low-cost, easily applicable complementary pain treatments not requiring heavy utilization of health care resources. Finally, we provide research and quality improvement frameworks and make suggestions to cover the gaps of existing evidence. PERSPECTIVE: This article addresses the current evidence for analgesic effects of music interventions, discusses its neurobiological basis and evaluates potential use of music in treating chronic pain patients in different health care settings. We also propose directions for future research to cover shortages in the currently published data.

The evidence base for US joint commission hospital accreditation standards: cross sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the evidence upon which standards for hospital accreditation by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (the Joint Commission) are based.

DESIGN

Cross sectional study.

SETTING

United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Four Joint Commission R3 (requirement, rationale, and reference) reports released by July 2018 and intended to become effective between 1 July 2018 and 1 July 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

From each R3 report the associated standard and its specific elements of performance (or actionable standards) were extracted. If an actionable standard enumerated multiple requirements, these were separated into distinct components. Two investigators reviewed full text references, and each actionable standard was classified as either completely supported, partly supported, or not supported; Oxford evidence quality ratings were assigned; and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the strength of recommendations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Strengths of recommendation for actionable standards.

RESULTS

20 actionable standards with 76 distinct components were accompanied by 48 references. Of the 20 actionable standards, six (30%) were completely supported by cited references, six were partly supported (30%), and eight (40%) were not supported. Of the six directly supported actionable standards, one (17%) cited at least one reference of level 1 or 2 evidence, none cited at least one reference of level 3 evidence, and five (83%) cited references of level 4 or 5 evidence. Of the completely supported actionable standards, strength of recommendation in five was deemed GRADE D and in one was GRADE B.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, recent actionable standards issued by The Joint Commission are seldom supported by high quality data referenced within the issuing documents. The Joint Commission might consider being more transparent about the quality of evidence and underlying rationale supporting each of its recommendations, including clarifying when and why in certain instances it determines that lower level evidence is sufficient.

Effects of acupuncture at acupoints with lower versus higher pain threshold for knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The acupoint selections impact the effects of acupuncture, and preliminary evidence showed potential connection between pain threshold (PT) and acupuncture response. This study examined whether acupuncture at acupoints with lower PT versus higher PT would yield different effects in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODS

In this multicenter randomized clinical trial, patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive acupuncture at acupoints with lower PT (LPT group), acupuncture at acupoints with higher PT (HPT group), and no acupuncture (waiting-list group). PT was measured with electronic von Frey detector. The primary outcome was the change in WOMAC total score from baseline to 16 weeks, and the secondary outcomes were SF-12 score, and active knee range of motion (ROM). Intention-to-treat analysis was conducted with linear mixed-effect model.

RESULTS

Among 666 randomized patients, 625 (93.84%) completed the study. From baseline to 16 weeks, patients in the LPT group versus HPT group had similar effects in reducing WOMAC total score (adjusted mean difference (MD) 2.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.51 to 6.92, P = 0.36), while a greater reduction in WOMAC total score was observed in LPT group (-9.77, 95% CI -14.47 to -5.07, P < 0.001) and HPT group (-11.97, 95% CI -16.71 to -7.24, P < 0.001) compared with waiting-list group. There were no differences in SF-12 score and knee ROM between LPT versus HPT groups.

CONCLUSION

Our findings found that the effects of acupuncture at acupoints with lower versus higher PT were similar, both were effective for patients with KOA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03299439. Registered 3 October 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03299439.

Annotating Music Therapy, Chiropractic and Aquatic Exercise Using Electronic Health Record

Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) has gained increasing popularity in the past decades. The overall goal of this study is to represent information pertinent to music therapy, chiropractic and aquatic exercise in an EHR system. A total of 300 clinical notes were randomly selected and manually annotated. Annotations were made for status, symptom and frequency of each approach. This set of annotations was used as a gold standard to evaluate performance of NLP systems used in this study (specifically BioMedICUS, MetaMap and cTAKES) for extracting CIH concepts. Three NLP systems achieved an average lenient match F1-score of 0.50 in all three CIH approaches. BioMedICUS achieved the best performance in music therapy with an F1-score of 0.73. This study is a pilot to investigate CIH representation in clinical note and lays a foundation for using EHR for clinical research for CIH approaches.

Receipt of Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care by Adults Diagnosed with Chronic Pain: Analysis of the 2016-2018 Rhode Island All Payer Claims Database

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends and factors associated with physical therapy (PT) and chiropractic care use among Rhode Islanders with private or publicly-funded health insurance who were diagnosed with chronic pain from 2016-2018.

METHODS

We measured monthly PT and chiropractic care use from the RI All Payer Claims Database, and conducted logistic regression to identify factors associated with utilization.

RESULTS

There were 284,942 unique adults with chronic pain representing over one-quarter of insured persons in the state. Chiropractic care use remained unchanged but was more prevalent (7.2%) than PT whose use increased minimally from 4.0% (2016) to 4.5% (2018). Traditional Medicare or Medicaid enrollment was associated with lower odds of receiving PT and chiropractic care than in private plans.

CONCLUSIONS

PT and chiropractic care use varied across payers; however, there were little to no changes in their use over time despite clinical guidelines that encourage non-pharmacologic options to manage chronic pain.

Comparison of Acupuncture and Sham Acupuncture in Migraine Treatment: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture is widely used for treating migraine; however, evidence of its efficacy when compared with sham acupuncture is equivocal. This study aimed to compare the evaluate efficacy of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in migraine treatment.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases from their inception to April 25, 2021, for randomized controlled trials. The outcome measurement included response rate, migraine days, intensity, and frequency.

RESULTS

Twenty randomized controlled trials involving 2725 patients were included. Pooled data suggested that acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture [mean difference (MD)=-0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.71 to -0.34, P<0.00001] in reducing the migraine frequency after treatment and follow-up (MD=-0.51, 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.32, P<0.00001). In reducing Visual Analog Scale, acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture (MD=-0.72, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.27, P=0.002) after treatment, and also superior to sham acupuncture (MD=-0.82, 95% CI: -1.31 to -0.33, P=0.001) on the follow-up. As for responder rate, acupuncture's efficacy was better than sham acupuncture (relative risk=1.28, 95% CI: 1.00-1.64, P=0.05). However, the reduction of migraine days in the acupuncture group was not significantly different from that in the sham acupuncture group after treatment (MD=-0.62; 95% CI: -1.31 to 0.08; P=0.08) and on the follow-up (MD=-0.68; 95% CI: -1.52 to 0.17; P=0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture appears to be an effective treatment modality for migraine. Compared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture had greater improvements in migraine frequency, Visual Analog Scale, and responder rate, but there was no statistically significant difference for the number of migraine days.

"The Pain Left, I Was Off and Running": A Qualitative Analysis of Group Acupuncture and Yoga Therapy for Chronic Pain in a Low-Income and Ethnically Diverse Population

Introduction: Chronic pain and the current opioid epidemic are pressing public health concerns, especially in low-income and ethnically diverse communities. Nonpharmacologic therapies that are safe, effective, and acceptable for the treatment of chronic pain conditions may provide a solution for addressing this issue. This qualitative analysis explores the experience of study participants who received combined acupuncture and yoga therapy (YT) to treat chronic pain delivered in a primary care setting. Methods: The group acupuncture with yoga therapy for chronic neck, low back, and osteoarthritic pain trial (GAPYOGA) assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of group acupuncture (GA) combined with YT in a low-income, racial, and ethnically diverse population. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with a subset of patients in the trial. Nineteen participants were interviewed for qualitative analysis of their experience. Using the immersion and crystallization method, transcribed interviews were analyzed for themes meaningfully representing participant experience. Results: The combined GA and YT resulted in significant pain relief and transformative healing experiences. Three themes emerged from participant narratives: (1) transformative engagement with self in the healing process through pain relief, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy; (2) therapeutic relationship with acupuncture and yoga providers; and (3) fostering relationships with fellow participants in the group. Discussion: In this study of a low-income and ethnically diverse population, the combination of acupuncture and YT was found to alleviate pain, improve function, promote psychological well-being, and engage participants in self-care practices in a transformative healing process-resulting in physical and psychological benefits.

Characteristics of Provider-Focused Research on Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Palliative Care: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The use of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) continues to grow in palliative care. While research supports the use of many CIM therapies for symptom relief, the scope of provider-focused research on CIM remains poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a scoping review to characterize provider-focused research on CIM in palliative care in order to map existing evidence and identify knowledge gaps.

METHODS

We developed a protocol outlining the study population, concept, and context; then used a validated approach per the JBI manual and searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and AMED.

RESULTS

We identified 34 studies that were conducted primarily in the US (n = 9) and UK (n = 6), focused mostly on nurse (n = 29) and physician (n = 22) providers, and employed questionnaires (n = 16) or qualitative (n = 15) methods. Studies investigated 58 CIM modalities, including massage (n = 13), music therapy (n = 12), and aromatherapy (n = 10), to address common symptoms including pain (n = 17), fatigue (n = 6), and nausea/vomiting (n = 6). Study outcomes included perceived benefits of CIM (n = 17) and types of CIM modalities that providers offer (n = 15). Uncommonly studied phenomena included referral patterns (n = 4), facilitators of provider recommendation of CIM (n = 3), and rates of CIM use (n = 3).

CONCLUSION

Provider-focused research on CIM in palliative care can expand its scope by addressing perspectives of interdisciplinary providers, examining CIM modalities that patients report using, addressing symptoms commonly encountered in palliative care, and researching provider-use-focused outcomes. We identify these possibilities for future studies in addition to opportunities for systematic investigations to enhance the safe and efficacious delivery of CIM in the palliative care setting.

Use of Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies Prior to Intensive Functional Restoration in Active Duty Service Members with Chronic Pain

OBJECTIVE

Psychosocial factors are known to predict chronic pain, and the use of complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies to address pain is emerging among military population. However, conflicting results on pain outcomes warrant additional research. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the benefit of adding a CIH pain management program to standard rehabilitative care (SRC), as compared to SRC alone, as precursor to an intensive functional restoration (FR) program; (2) identify factors that predict improvement in pain outcomes following treatment; and (3) determine the proportion of participants who experience clinically meaningful response.

DESIGN

Pragmatic randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomized to a 3-week course of either SRC alone or SRC+CIH (stage 1), followed by a 3- to 6-week course of FR (stage 2).

SETTING AND SUBJECTS

Active duty service members with chronic pain.

METHODS

Participants completed either SRC alone or SRC+CIH (stage 1), followed by a course of FR (stage 2). Patient-reported and provider-determined outcomes were collected at baseline, after stage 1, and after stage 2. A covariance pattern model with unstructured residual covariance matrix was used to compare treatment arms while accounting for dependency due to repeated measurements.

RESULTS

A total of 210 service members participated. Most were Army (82%) and male (84%). Participants randomized to the SRC+CIH intervention had greater improvement in the pain impact score than those in the SRC alone group. Predictors of outcomes were baseline impact score, anger, depression, and educational status.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that military service members with the highest pain impact benefit the most from interdisciplinary pain care.

Yoga is effective in treating symptoms of Gulf War illness: A randomized clinical trial

Many Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War report symptoms of Gulf War Illness, a condition involving numerous chronic symptoms including pain, fatigue, and mood/cognition symptoms. Little is known about this condition's etiology and treatment. This study reports outcomes from a randomized controlled single-blind trial comparing yoga to cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain and other symptoms of Gulf War Illness. Participants were Veterans with symptoms of GWI: chronic pain, fatigue and cognition-mood symptoms. Seventy-five Veterans were randomized to treatment via selection of envelopes from a bag (39 yoga, 36 cognitive behavioral therapy), which consisted of ten weekly group sessions. The primary outcomes of pain severity and interference (Brief Pain Inventory- Short Form) improved in the yoga condition (Cohen's d = .35, p = 0.002 and d = 0.69, p < 0.001, respectively) but not in the CBT condition (d = 0.10, p = 0.59 and d = 0.25 p = 0.23). However, the differences between groups were not statistically significant (d = 0.25, p = 0.25; d = 0.43, p = 0.076), though the difference in an a-priori-defined experimental outcome variable which combines these two variables into a total pain variable (d = 0.47, p = 0.047) was significant. Fatigue, as indicated by a measure of functional exercise capacity (6-min walk test) was reduced significantly more in the yoga group than in the CBT group (between-group d = .27, p = 0.044). Other secondary outcomes of depression, wellbeing, and self-reported autonomic nervous system symptoms did not differ between groups. No adverse events due to treatment were reported. Yoga may be an effective treatment for core Gulf War Illness symptoms of pain and fatigue, making it one of few treatments with empirical support for GWI. Results support further evaluation of yoga for treating veterans with Gulf War Illness. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: clinicaltrials.gov Registration Number NCT02378025.

Modulatory Effects of Actual and Imagined Acupuncture on the Functional Connectivity of the Periaqueductal Gray and Ventral Tegmental Area

OBJECTIVE

Both acupuncture and guided imagery hold promise for treating pain. The mechanisms underlying these alternative interventions remain unclear. The reported study aimed to comparatively investigate the modulation effect of actual and imagined acupuncture on the functional connectivity of descending pain modulation system and reward network.

METHODS

Twenty-four healthy participants (mean [standard error], 25.21 [0.77] years of age; 66.67% female) completed a crossover study that included five sessions, a training session and four intervention sessions administered in randomized order. We investigated the modulation effect of real acupuncture, sham acupuncture, video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT) and VGAIT control on the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of periaqueductal gray (PAG) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). These are key regions of the descending pain modulatory system and dopaminergic reward system, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared with sham acupuncture, real acupuncture produced decreased PAG-precuneus (Pcu) rsFC and increased VTA-amygdala/hippocampus rsFC. Heat pain threshold changes applied on the contralateral forearm were significantly associated with the decreased PAG-Pcu (r = 0.49, p = .016) and increased VTA-hippocampus rsFC (r = -0.77, p < .001). Compared with VGAIT control, VGAIT produced decreased PAG-paracentral lobule/posterior cingulate cortex/Pcu, middle cingulate cortex (MCC), and medial prefrontal cortex rsFC, and decreased VTA-caudate and MCC rsFC. Direct comparison between real acupuncture and VGAIT showed that VGAIT decreased rsFC in PAG-paracentral lobule/MCC, VTA-caudate/anterior cingulate cortex/nucleus accumbens, and VTA-MCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that both actual and imagined acupuncture can modulate key regions in the descending pain modulatory system and reward networks, but through different pathways. Identification of different pain relief mechanisms may facilitate the development of new pain management methods.

The methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine reverses the DNA methylation signature of chronic neuropathic pain in mouse frontal cortex

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Chronic administration of S-adenosylmethionine reverses neuropathic pain–induced changes in DNA methylation in the mouse frontal cortex.

Chronic pain is associated with persistent but reversible structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This stable yet malleable plasticity implicates epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, as a potential mediator of chronic pain–induced cortical pathology. We previously demonstrated that chronic oral administration of the methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) attenuates long-term peripheral neuropathic pain and alters global frontal cortical DNA methylation. However, the specific genes and pathways associated with the resolution of chronic pain by SAM remain unexplored.

Can the sleep quality of patients with chronic neck pain be improved by muscle energy techniques combined with Swedish massage?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Muscle energy techniques (METs) are used to reduce tension in neck muscles and therefore, can be used together with Swedish massage to enhance its effect. The aim of this study was to assess if using METs combined with massage could improve sleep quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective, randomised controlled trial forty patients with chronic cervical spine pain were divided into two equal groups. Both groups attended 10 sessions of Swedish massage, and the study group additionally attended MET-sessions. Sleep disturbances were assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS

A significant improvement in terms of sleep disturbances was seen in both groups. The MET group demonstrated improvement in all PSQI components. In the control group, the improvement included only 4 components of the index.

CONCLUSION

Massage therapy combined with relaxing METs may be more effective than massage therapy alone in this group of patients.

Effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for postherpetic neuralgia: an umbrella review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Several systematic reviews and meta-analysis indicate that acupuncture and related therapies may be a valuable adjunctive technique to pharmacological interventions for pain management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). However, the robustness of the results of these studies has not been evaluated. The aim of this proposed umbrella review is to provide more reliable evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for PHN based on medical references for healthcare decision makers.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wan fang Database will be used to retrieve reviews. The time of publication will be limited from inception to March 2021. Two reviewers will screen all retrieved articles independently to identify their eligibility and extract the data. The quality will be assessed independently by two trained reviewers using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 for methodological quality, Risk of Bias in Systematic Review for level of bias, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for reporting quality and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation for the quality of evidence. Any disagreements will be settled by discussion or the involvement of a third reviewer.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The protocol of this review does not require ethical approval because the research will be based on publicly available data. The findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed international journals or presentation in academic conference.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020173341.

REPORTING CHECKLIST

PRISMA-P, 2015.

Efficacy of combined use of glycosaminoglycan peptide complex for intramuscular administration and oral diacerein in osteoarthritis: evaluation according to an observational multicenter clinical trial

Background. The combined use of intramuscular injection glycosaminoglycan peptide complex (GPC) and oral diacerein can increase the effectiveness of treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Aim. Compare the effectiveness of combination GPC + diacerein and GPC monotherapy in the treatment of OA in clinical practice. Materials and methods. A retrospective evaluation of the results of a 12-week multicenter observational non-interventional study of the effectiveness of GPC (Rumalon, a course of intramuscular injections 3 times a week, №25) in patients with moderate/severe OA (n=2955) requiring regular administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The analysis identified a group of patients (n=414) who received GPC in combination with diacerein 100 mg/day (Diaflex Rompharm). The therapeutic effect was compared in the groups of GPC monotherapy (n=2541) and the combination of GPC with diacerein. These groups did not differ in average age (61.411.8 and 61.911.3 years), both were dominated by women (76.3 and 70.3%), there was approximately equal intensity of pain during movement and impaired joint function: 6.11.8/6.01.6 and 4.92.1/5.11.8 (according to the numerical rating scale 010). The dynamics of pain intensity, the need for NSAIDs, and the frequency of adverse events (AE) were compared 12 weeks after the start of treatment. Results and discussion. In the majority of patients with OA both on the background of GPC monotherapy and combined use of GPC and diacerein, there was a significant improvement. The number of patients with pain reduction 50% was 54.3 and 62.8% (p0.001), NSAID administration was completely stopped in 66.7 and 77.5% (p0.001), respectively. The effectiveness of the combination of GPC and diacerein was significantly higher than that of GPC monotherapy in OA of the knee joint, hip joint, and generalized OA. AE from the gastrointestinal tract was observed in 7.8 and 8.9%, arterial hypertension in 6.3 and 4.6%, allergic reactions in 0.3 and 0.5% of patients (not significant). Conclusion. The application of the code of civil procedure is an effective treatment for OA. The combination of GPC and diacerein provides a more significant improvement than GPC monotherapy. GPC and diacerein (including in combination) are well tolerated and rarely cause AE.

The role of complementary and alternative methods in the treatment of pain in patients with cancer - current evidence and clinical practice: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Pain related to cancer, despite the numerous treatment options available, is still a challenge in contemporary pain medicine. The unsatisfactory treatment of cancer pain is one of the main reasons why patients seek complementary and alternative methods (CAM) and a more integrative/holistic approach to pain management. The popularity of CAM forces healthcare professionals to provide patients with current and evidence-based information on the effectiveness and safety of CAM. The aim of the paper is to present current evidence and limitations regarding CAM commonly used in the pain management of cancer patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The paper comprehensively reviews the current and most relevant literature considering the integrative approach to management of pain due to cancer disease and/or cancer treatment.

RESULTS

The available data from clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews supports the effectiveness of acupuncture, massage, physical exercises, music therapy, and mind-body therapies as adjunct therapies for alleviating pain in cancer patients, although the supporting evidence is weak or moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the available knowledge, physicians should be capable of advising the cancer patient as to which CAM methods can be used safely, which are contraindicated, and what therapeutic effects they may expect, especially when standard pain treatment fails or induces serious side effects. An integrative approach to cancer pain management may improve the quality of pain treatment, patients' quality of life, and satisfaction with pain relief.

Impacts of Touch massage on the experience of patients with chronic pain: A protocol for a mixed method study

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain is a major public health problem. It affects the quality of life of many patients and their families and compromises physical and social functioning and psychological well-being. Non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly being used as a complement to chronic pain care. One of these interventions is Touch massage (TM) that can provide relaxation, comfort and well-being. In addition to its various physiological functions, TM can be used as a social communication tool.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cluster study with an exploratory qualitative part. Two groups will be considered: the experimental group will benefit from a TM delivered by trained members of care team and the control group will benefit from an intervention of the same duration with a foot massage device. At least 4 sessions will be delivered and spread over two weeks. Sample size calculation showed that 78 participants (39 per group) need to be included. As for the qualitative part, semi-structured interviews will be conducted to investigate the patients' perception of the intervention; focus groups will explore the satisfaction and general perception of the health care teams.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Incorporating TM interventions into care planning could bring benefits in supporting patients suffering from chronic pain. TM is expected to increase the patients' feelings that their pain is seriously considered; physical and psychological support should help improve their sense of comfort and well-being and hence their quality of life. This practice might thus improve the caregiver-patient relationship with TM as a providing a new means of establishing communication through touch.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04295603, Registered on March 4, 2020.

Evidence to Support the Use of S-Adenosylmethionine for Treatment of Post-Concussive Sequelae in the Military

INTRODUCTION

Since the year 2000, over 413,000 service members have sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may present with post-concussive sequelae including headaches, fatigue, irritability, cognitive problems, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain. Although the focus of the article is on military TBI, the usefulness of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) would extend to both civilian and military populations. This narrative review examines the preclinical and clinical literature of SAMe's metabolism and alterations seen in disease states such as depressive disorders, pain disorders, fatigue, cognition, dementia, use in pregnancy and peripartum, children, adolescents, and adults, to the elderly with and without dementia, stroke, and neurodegeneration, in order to highlight its potential benefit in post-concussive sequelae after TBI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane Database search was conducted between May 3, 2018 and July 30, 2019 by combining search terms for SAMe with terms for relevant disease states including depression, brain injury, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cognition, fatigue, and pain. This search retrieved a total of 676 references. 439 were excluded for being over a 10-year publication date, except where clinically relevant. After additional removal of repeated articles, the number of articles were totaled 197. An additional 59 articles were excluded: 10 not in English, 4 duplicates, 4 not original investigations, and 41 outside the scope of this article. The remaining 138 articles were used in this review and included 25 clinical studies, 46 preclinical studies, 63 reviews, and 4 case reports.

RESULTS

This narrative review examined the preclinical and clinical literature of SAMe's metabolism and alterations seen in MDD, pain disorders, fatigue, cognition and memory, dementia, and other disorders to highlight the potential benefit of SAMe in post-concussive sequelae in mTBI. The literature showed potential for improvement, safety, and tolerability in these symptom clusters commonly seen in military mild TBI (mTBI).

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of a potential benefit of SAMe as an intervention to help with symptoms across the range of post-concussive sequelae and syndromes commonly seen in military mTBI. Since the discovery of SAMe in 1952, this pleiotropic molecule has shown the significance of its involvement in several metabolic cascades in such disparate systems as epigenetics, bioenergetics, DNA methylation, neurotransmitter systems, and potential usefulness in military TBI. Significant limitations include disparate presentations seen in patients with mild TBI, those with post-concussive syndrome, as well as those with comorbid depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Also, over-the-counter medications are not regulated and SAMe products may vary widely in price and quality. Given the potential for mania in patients with bipolar disorder, evaluation and recommendations should be made by a physician able to evaluate the underlying bipolar diathesis. Furthermore, this narrative review serves as the rationale for future open-label and double-blind placebo-controlled trials in military mTBI and SAMe.

Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches Offered in the Veterans Health Administration: Results of a National Organizational Survey

Introduction: Certain complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches have increasingly gained attention as evidence-based nonpharmacological options for pain, mental health, and well-being. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) has been at the forefront of providing CIH approaches for years, and the 2016 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act mandated the VA expand its provision of CIH approaches. Objective/Design: To conduct a national organizational survey to document aspects of CIH approach implementation from August 2017 to July 2018 at the VA. Participants: CIH program leads at VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics (n = 196) representing 289 sites participated. Measures: Delivery of 27 CIH and other nonpharmacologic approaches was measured, including types of departments and providers, visit format, geographic variations, and implementation challenges. Results: Respondents reported offering a total of 1,568 CIH programs nationally. Sites offered an average of five approaches (range 1-23), and 63 sites offered 10 or more approaches. Relaxation techniques, mindfulness, guided imagery, yoga, and meditation were the top five most frequently offered. The most approaches were offered in physical medicine and rehabilitation, primary care, and within integrative/whole health programs, and VA non-Doctor of Medicine clinical staff were the most common type of CIH provider. Only 13% of sites reported offering CIH approaches through telehealth at the time. Geographically, southwestern sites offered the smallest number of approaches. Implementation challenges included insufficient staffing, funding, and space, hiring/credentialing, positioning CIH as a priority, and high patient demand. Conclusions: The provision of CIH approaches was widespread at the VA in 2017-2018, with over half of responding sites offering five or more approaches. As patients seek nonpharmacologic options to address their pain, anxiety, depression, and well-being, the nation's largest integrated health care system is well-positioned to meet that demand. Providing these therapies might not only increase patient satisfaction but also their health and well-being with limited to no adverse events.

From Precision Metapharmacology to Patient Empowerment: Delivery of Self-Care Practices for Epilepsy, Pain, Depression and Cancer Using Digital Health Technologies

To improve long-term outcomes of therapies for chronic diseases, health promotion and lifestyle modifications are the most promising and sustainable strategies. In addition, advances in digital technologies provide new opportunities to address limitations of drug-based treatments, such as medication non-adherence, adverse effects, toxicity, drug resistance, drug shortages, affordability, and accessibility. Pharmaceutical drugs and biologics can be combined with digital health technologies, including mobile medical apps (digital therapeutics), which offer additional clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness. Promises of drug+digital combination therapies are recognized by pharmaceutical and digital health companies, opening opportunities for integrating pharmacotherapies with non-pharmacological interventions (metapharmacology). Herein we present unique features of digital health technologies which can deliver personalized self-care modalities such as breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, yoga, physical activity, adequate sleep, listening to preferred music, forgiveness and gratitude. Clinical studies reveal how aforementioned complimentary practices may support treatments of epilepsy, chronic pain, depression, cancer, and other chronic diseases. This article also describes how digital therapies delivering “medicinal” self-care and other non-pharmacological interventions can also be personalized by accounting for: 1) genetic risks for comorbidities, 2) adverse childhood experiences, 3) increased risks for viral infections such as seasonal influenza, or COVID-19, and 4) just-in-time stressful and traumatic circumstances. Development and implementation of personalized pharmacological-behavioral combination therapies (precision metapharmacology) require aligning priorities of key stakeholders including patients, research communities, healthcare industry, regulatory and funding agencies. In conclusion, digital technologies enable integration of pharmacotherapies with self-care, lifestyle interventions and patient empowerment, while concurrently advancing patient-centered care, integrative medicine and digital health ecosystems.

Knowledge and clinical dialogues about complementary health approaches among nurse practitioners specialized in geriatrics

BACKGROUND

In the United States, people over the age of 65 years will account for 20% of the population by 2030, and these elders are more likely to have chronic comorbid complex health problems. Sixty-three percent use complementary health approaches (CHAs) but less than half disclose their use to their health care providers. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are the fastest growing population of primary care health providers.

PURPOSE

This study identifies to what degree NPs with specialized training in geriatrics understand CHAs, use them themselves, encourage their patients to access them, and engage in CHA clinical dialogue.

METHODS

Cross-sectional online survey collecting quantitative and narrative data; US NPs with specialized training in geriatrics (n = 170, mean age 52 years, SD: 9.0, range: 29-73).

RESULTS

Although NPs are knowledgeable about some CHA and believe they are beneficial for older adults to use, they want more education to help understand the effects of a variety of CHA, be more aware of possible treatment interactions, and to integrate CHA into the current health care system. Patient factors (impaired cognitive function, acute health problems, and not open to CHA), provider factors (inadequate CHA knowledge, limited referral paths and resources), and system factors (limited accessibility and availability of CHA in in-patient setting, CHA not covered by insurance, and limited clinical time) disrupt NPs from assessing and discussing CHA with their patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

There is a need to develop and implement NP practice guidelines for CHA clinical management for older adults and provide educational opportunities to incorporate CHA into clinical practice.