Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2002; 7: 100
In October 2000, the German Board of Physicians and Health Insurers (Bundesausschuss der Ärzte und Krankenkassen) decided that acupuncture should not be paid within routine reimbursement owing to insufficient evidence of efficacy. However, it has allowed reimbursement for treatment of patients with chronic headache, low back pain and osteoarthritis if outcomes are evaluated scientifically. Our centre has been selected to plan and run the evaluation programme for a group of insurers that cover about one-quarter of the German population.
We have set up an evaluation programme to: (1) investigate whether acupuncture is more effective than minimal acupuncture or no treatment (waiting list) in migraine, low back pain and osteoarthritis; (2) investigate whether acupuncture is as effective as standard drug treatment in migraine prophylaxis; (3) to describe and evaluate quality, outcomes and safety of acupuncture treatment for the three conditions listed in routine practice; and (4) to monitor new evidence emerging from other trials.
Objective 1: three multicentre, randomised trials aiming to recruit 320 patients each (160 acupuncture, 80 minimal acupuncture, 80 waiting list). Objective 2: one randomised trial with 480 patients (240 acupuncture, 240 standard drug treatment). Objective 3: all (expected approximately 500 000) patients treated with acupuncture by 9000 accredited physicians will be monitored for side-effects and basic demographic data, treatment and global physician evaluation. A random sample of patients will be documented in more detail (approximately 30 000). Objective 4: update of existing systematic reviews.
