title: Protocol for Acupuncture Treatment of Lateral Elbow Pain: A Multisite Randomised Controlled Trial in China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Italy.
abstract: Background. Lateral elbow pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pains associated with the upper limb and has an estimated population incidence of 1-3%.Methods/Design. This study protocol is for a multisite randomised controlled study and is designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic (over three months' duration) lateral elbow pain. Four study sites, in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Italy, and Australia, will recruit 24 participants each. A total of 96 participants will be randomised to either an acupuncture group or a sham laser control group. The primary outcome measure will be the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire with secondary outcome measures of Pain-Free Grip Strength Test, Muscle Tension Test, and a pain visual analogue scale.Discussion. Key features for conducting a multisite international acupuncture randomised clinical trial have been detailed in this protocol.Trial Registration. This trial is registered at Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12613001138774 on 11 October, 2013.
authors.affiliation: Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5618-5161
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zaslawski
authors.affiliation: Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berle
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3386-2742
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gadau
authors.affiliation: Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Wei Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Tie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Fu Chun
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Paracelso Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bangrazi
authors.affiliation: World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Paracelso Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.affiliation: Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Yan Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yuan Sheng
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7213-5906
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Shi Ping
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6413-5778
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zhang