Acupuntura (y otros tratamientos). Diseño de ensayo clínico que lleva a resultados positivos.
Acupunture (and others treatment). A trial design that generates only ''positive'' results.In recent years, we have seen a plethora of RCTs adopting a design
where patients are randomized to receive either usual care (the control
group) or usual care plus the experimental treatment. Schematically
this design could be depicted as 'A + B versus B'. At first glance,
such comparisons may seem reasonable. However, on closer inspection,
doubts emerge regarding whether such RCTs are fair scientific tests of
the experimental intervention. These doubts originate from the
theoretical view that 'A plus B' will invariably amount to more than
'B' alone. Even in cases where treatment A is a pure placebo, its
placebo and other nonspecific effects could lead to a better outcome in
the experimental group than in the control group. This would be
particularly likely if i) the experimental treatment is associated with
sizable nonspecific effects, ii) a subjective outcome measure is used,
and iii) the experimental intervention 'A' causes a deterioration of
the condition being treated.
http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=2008;volume=54;issue=3;spage=214;epage=216;aulast=ErnstEffectiveness of acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane. NNTB of 4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27351677?dopt=Abstract