About the project
In this thesis we aimed to evaluate the method and the efficacy of acupuncture treatments for infantile colic.
We did a pilot study[1] and then carried out a multi-centre randomised controlled trial[2]. We did a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis from all randomised controlled trials on the topic[3]. We did a qualitative field study in Shanghai[4].
In the randomised controlled trial we found no statistically or clinically significant difference in crying time reduction between acupuncture and control group.
In the individual patient data meta-analysis there was no clinically relevant difference in crying time reduction between acupuncture intervention and no acupuncture control at any of the measured intervals. The registration of crying during treatment suggested that more infants cried during acupuncture treatment versus control, indicating needle pain.
The Shanghai field study revealed that acupuncture was neither routinely practiced nor recommended for infants among contemporary Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners there.
Percutaneous needle acupuncture should not be recommended for infantile colic.
Financing
Norwegian Research Fund for General Practice
Project start and finish
2010-2018
Collaboration
- The Norwegian institute of Public Health, Division for Health Services, Oslo, Norway.
- Chinese Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Beijing, Republic of China.
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shanghai,Republic of China.
Prizes
2013- Paper of the Year- Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
2015- The Travel Scholarship- The Norwegian Research Fund in General Practice
2018- The PhD-prize- The Norwegian Pain Society
Impact
National and international recommendations are now advising against such treatments on infants.
Publications
- Skjeie, H., et al., A pilot study of ST36 acupuncture for infantile colic. Acupuncture in Medicine, 2011. 29(2): p. 103-7.
- Skjeie, H., et al., Acupuncture for infantile colic: a blinding-validated, randomized controlled multicentre trial in general practice. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 2013. 31(4): p. 190-6.
- Skjeie, H., et al., Acupuncture treatments for infantile colic: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of blinding test validated randomised controlled trials. Scand J Prim Health Care, 2018: p. 1-14.
- Skjeie, H. and M. Brekke, 'Big needles, small bodies'-the absence of acupuncture treatment for infants in contemporary Shanghai: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 2015. 5(11): p. e009486.