A method of assessing the clinical effects of acupuncture

This article describes a data handling system designed to assess the effects of acupuncture in some common diseases. The objectives of this system are to provide a simple, swift and practical method that can be effectively operated within the limits of a busy clinic. This would provide crude descriptive data that will be of use in itself as well as suggesting further ideas for more detailed research. The system is based on the use of simple questionnaires, these are formulated so that they can be used by the patients alone. An initial form is used to record basic patient data and then one of the five symptom group forms (pain, headache, indigestion, lower bowel disorder and breathlessness) is then used to evaluate the severity of any particular disease. All the questionnaires are based on similar criteria, such as drug intake, sleep disturbance due to the disease and patient's subjective evaluation of the severity of their disease. The symptom group forms are filled in by the patient at the beginning of treatment, at the end of treatment and after a three month follow-up period. The questionnaires have been piloted on some 300 patients, and have been found to be a valid and effective method of assessing treatment.