Table 2.
Mean change in outcomes from baseline to each time interval.
| The laser acupuncture group | The sham laser acupuncture group | P value†† | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 28) | (n = 26) | ||||||
| Mean ± SD | 95% CI∗ | P value† | Mean ± SD | 95% CI∗ | P value† | ||
| (minimum, median, maximum) | (minimum, median, maximum) | ||||||
| VAS | |||||||
| Visit 1 (baseline) | 44.64 ± 11.86 (30, 40, 75) | 47.78 ± 10.95 (30, 40, 80) | |||||
| Visit 2 | −2.68 ± 10.04 (−30, 0, 20) | [−5.91, 0.55] | 0.0848 | −5.56 ± 9.23 (−30, 0, 10) | [−8.59, −2.52] | <0.01 | 0.2743 |
| Visit 3 | −8.75 ± 10.42 (−30, −10, 10) | [−12.1, −5.4] | <0.001 | −7.22 ± 12.58 (−40, −10, 20) | [−11.35, −3.09] | <0.01 | 0.6253 |
| Visit 4 (f/u) | −11.07 ± 12.12 (−40, −10, 10) | [−14.97, −7.17] | <0.001 | −12.78 ± 13.82 (−60, −10, 10) | [−17.31, −8.24] | <0.001 | 0.6281 |
| PPT | |||||||
| Visit 1 (baseline) | 7.12 ± 2.27 (3, 7, 12) | 6.56 ± 1.86 (4, 6, 12) | |||||
| Visit 2 | −1.34 ± 1.66 (−5, −1, 1) | [−1.88, −0.81] | <0.001 | −0.96 ± 1.26 (−4, −1, 2) | [−1.37, −0.55] | <0.001 | 0.3423 |
| Visit 3 | −1.3 ± 2.3 (−7, −1, 2) | [−2.04, −0.56] | <0.01 | −0.76 ± 1.49 (−4, −1, 2) | [−1.24, −0.27] | <0.01 | 0.3060 |
| Visit 4 (f/u) | −1.2 ± 2.21 (−6, −1, 3) | [−1.91, −0.49] | <0.01 | −0.8 ± 1.55 (−4, −1, 2) | [−1.3, −0.29] | <0.01 | 0.4374 |
| PGIC | |||||||
| Visit 1 (baseline) | 4 ± 0 (4, 4, 4) | 4 ± 0 (4, 4, 4) | |||||
| Visit 4 (f/u) | −1 ± 0.72 (−2, −1, 0) | [−1.23, −0.77] | <0.001 | −0.93 ± 0.78 (−3, −1, 1) | [−1.18, −0.67] | <0.001 | 0.7159 |
| EQ-5D | |||||||
| Visit 1 (baseline) | 0.79 ± 0.08 (0.56, 0.81, 0.9) | 0.75 ± 0.1 (0.51, 0.77, 0.86) | |||||
| Visit 4 (f/u) | 0.03 ± 0.08 (−0.14, 0, 0.23) | [0.01, 0.06] | <0.05 | 0.04 ± 0.09 (−0.1, 0.04, 0.31) | [0.01, 0.07] | <0.01 | 0.5833 |
†Results of paired two-sample t-test for outcome variables within each group; ††results of independent two-sample t-test for outcome variables between groups.
∗Since all statistical analyses were set to the one-tailed test, 90% confidence intervals were provided.
VAS: visual analogue scale; PGIC: patient global impression of change; PPT: pressure pain threshold; EQ-5D: Euro-Quality-of-Life Five Dimensions; f/u: follow-up.