title: Multidimensional Aspects ofde qiSensations in MASS and ASQ Assessment: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Background. De qicomprises varied senses depending on the individual. No single method can yet fully measure the multiple dimensions ofde qiadequately.Objective.We examined the advantages of implementing multiple questionnaires forde qimeasurement.Methods.Fourteen participants completed a preacupuncture questionnaire regarding their perception toward acupuncture treatment. After acupuncture stimulation at the HT7 point,de qisensations were measured by MASS and ASQ. In groups with different levels of expectation, we compared the subtotal scores of each phase in the ASQ, as well as the VASde qiintensity and MASS index using Kruskal-Wallis test. For the structural comparison of questionnaires, we first performed Spearman's rank correlation test between the scores of individual descriptors in MASS and ASQ. The subtotal scores of each phase in ASQ was compared with VASde qiintensity and MASS index.Results.The subtotal score of the manipulation phase in ASQ strongly correlated with the VAS score ofde qiintensity (Spearman'sρ= 0.654,p= 0.011) and MASS index (Spearman'sρ= 0.488,p= 0.076). MASS and ASQ showed strong correlations in certain analogous descriptors. Unpleasant perceptions toward acupuncture treatment did not significantly correlate with overallde qiintensity.Conclusions. De qisensations in acupuncture treatment have multidimensional aspects. Intensity of stimulation, ASQ, and MASS index assess somewhat restricted aspects ofde qi. Those questionnaires have exclusive differences of sets in spite of their strong intersections. Use of multiple questionnaires may enable a more comprehensive understanding ofde qiproperties and the elicitation of relevant construction inde qifeatures of acupuncture.
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Chan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3533-8461
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju 58245, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaegyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3222-2965
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Informatics of Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Haebeom
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Informatics of Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Biofunctional Medicine and Diagnostics, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Bae
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6025-1731
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biofunctional Medicine and Diagnostics, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunho
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2724-7316
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim