Expectation and experience of the ‘nonspecific’ effects of acupuncture: Developing and piloting a set of questionnaires

Abstract

32-item ‘EXPectation of feelings’ questionnaires were developed to explore the expected (EXPre) and reported (EXPost) incidence of ‘nonspecific’ (whole person) feelings in response to acupuncture-type interventions, in particular electroacupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS). They were tested on 204 participants familiar with acupuncture in three separate cohorts (Pilot, CPD, Students). Their validity and reliability were assessed, a cluster analysis conducted, and the association between expectation and experience analysed, along with those items most frequently found, association with other trait and state measures, and the influence of various aspects of treatments on reported feelings. Results are briefly reported in our poster. Methods and further detailed material are provided in the online background information.