Table 3.
Overview of Clinical Scales Used as Outcome Measures
| Validated scale used | Neuropathy-related condition | Study/condition | Post-acupuncture changes compared to baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCTS including Symptom Severity | CTS | Kumnerddee 201061 | Improvement in SSS, FSS at 5 weeks (p < 0.05) |
| Scale (SSS) and Functional Status | |||
| Scale (FSS) | |||
| Carpal Tunnel Self-Assessment | CTS | Yao 201262 | Improved post acupuncture (p < 0.05) |
| Questionnaire (CTSAQ) | No difference from baseline at 3 months | ||
| Global Symptom Score (GSS) | CTS | Yang 200956 | Improved at 4 weeks (p < 0.01) |
| Yang 201155 | Improved at 7 and 13 months (p < 0.01) | ||
| Khosrawi 201260 | Improved at 4 weeks (p < 0.001) | ||
| Facial Disability Index (FDIP, FDIS) | Bell's palsy | Li 200445 | Improved FDIP compared to control at 4 weeks (p = 0.009) |
| House–Brackmann Scale | Bell's palsy | Li 2004 | Improved over medication control (p = 0.005) |
| Tong 200959 | 96.4% improvement to grade 3 or better | ||
| Gracely Pain Scale (GPS) | HIV | Anastasi 201365 | Improved at 2-week follow-up (p < 0.05) |
| HIV | Schiflett 201157 | N/A | |
| HIV | Shlay 199858 | Greater pain relief at 14 weeks (p = 0.03) | |
| Karnofsky Score | HIV | Schiflett 2011 | No difference at 6 or 14 weeks |
| Shlay 1998 | No difference at 6 or 14 weeks | ||
| Subjective Peripheral Neuropathy | HIV | Anastasi 2013 | Average score improved at 2 weeks (p < 0.05) |
| Screen (SPNS) | |||
| Visual Analog Scale (VAS) | HIV, DM, | Kumnerddee 2010 | Improved at 5 weeks (p < 0.05) |
| IPN | Penza 201166 | ||
| Beck Depression Inventory | DM/IPN | Penza 2011 | No difference after six treatments |
| SF-36 QOL | DM/IPN | Penza 2011 | No difference after six treatments |