Table 1.
AAP Survey Questions and Consensus on First Call.
| AAP Survey Questions | Early Consensus Reached 10.29.19 | Responses |
|---|---|---|
| What is the total number of treatments you typically provide older adults with cLBP? | ✓ | Varies: Ongoing discussion within parameters of trial (12 or 15 sessions in 12 weeks) then continue with option of 6 more sessions for some patients |
| Do you typically palpate (channels, points, ‘hara’)? | ✓ | All agreed |
| Do you typically use local and distal points? | ✓ | All agreed |
| Do you typically use ‘ah shi’ points? | ✓ | All agreed |
| Do you have ‘favorite’ points (for cLBP), i.e., points you commonly use? | ✓ | AAP members have favorite points they use. |
| If so, what are they? | Points collated for discussion | |
| How many acupoints do you typically needle per session? | VariesAgree need to discuss further | |
| Do you vary acupoints selection as a patient's presentation evolves? | ✓ | All agreed |
| Do you try to obtain de qi/session? | ✓ | Depending on points; early consensus favors de qi at acupoints but used at the practitioner’s discretion |
| How long does a typical session last for a first treatment and follow-up treatment? | ✓ | 60 minutes for first session: 40–60 minutes fu. |
| What is your typical needle retention time? | ✓ | For any one insertion site (or unit as tx of back or front) may be as little as none and up to 40 minutes, with common range of 10–25 minutes |
| What kind of needles do you use? (diameter … and length, coated, non-coated?) | ✓ | Agree to leave to practitioner discretion with recommendation of non-coated needles |
| Are you comfortable treating patients only using acupuncture needling? | ✓ | Other acupuncture therapies have been proscribed by NIH; only needling is allowed in this study. |
| Are you comfortable filling out computer forms? | ✓ | All agreed |
| Is there anything else you want us to know? | Informed other discussion topics such as optimal patient positioning, how to treat if patient is limited in positioning, consideration of recommendations prior to tx in terms of food and fluids to reduce risk of syncope and to receive tx well. How to adjust tx for nervous acupuncture. naïve participants. Auricular therapy. Post session recommendations. | |
| What do we consider to be appropriate steps in an intervention?* | ✓ | An anticipated order of interview/conversation, palpation, selection of acupuncture points (body and ear if used), a range of number of points treated, a range of point retention times and a range of session times |
*Question raised at first call, but not on survey.