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Developing a Traditional East Asian Medicine Structured Instrument (TEAMSI): As part of the NESA Acupuncture Research Collaborative, this study aims to further develop a reliable and valid East Asian medicine (EAM) diagnostic instrument. Appropriate assessment and outcome instrumentation will assist in the development of protocols that more accurately reflect EAM principles, provide a better understanding of the clinical significance and the mechanisms underlying the specificity of acupuncture protocols and techniques, and in doing so develop a research methodology that integrates EAM principles and biomedical science in clinical trials of acupuncture and EAM. The focus of this study is to build on our previous work aimed at operationalizing the OM diagnostic process for use in clinical trials. Our aims are to further develop a previously created EAM diagnostic instrument, evaluate reliability (test-retest and inter-rater reliability) and establish validity (face, content, ecological, incremental validity) of its use. This study aims to take an essential step in facilitating the dialogue between EAM and established research methodology, and in this way contribute to the design and evaluation of clinical trials of acupuncture and EAM. Phase I of the project focused on development of the TEAMSI-TCM. A consensus-building process using a panel of expert acupuncturists was used to: (a) define the list of questions and criteria that make up the assessment process used by acupuncture practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), (b) map the best sequence and format to organize them, and (c) incorporate these changes into a revised TEAMSI form. In Phase II of the project, the reliability and validity of the newly developed TEAMSI-TCM is being tested in 2 prospective randomized controlled trials. The reliability and validity of the TEAMSI-TCM will be tested in two arenas: (a) in an experimental setting using intakes from 3 standardized patients and (b) in a clinical setting using a small sample of 10 patients with dysmenorrhea recruited for this purpose from the greater Boston area. Current Status: Phase I completed, Phase II underway. Principal Investigators - Rosa Schnyer, DiplAc, LicAc (NESA); Lisa Conboy, ScD (1); and Ted Kaptchuk, LicAc (1) Other NESA Participants: Jessica Shaw (current NESA student and research assistant) Other Participants: Patrick McKnight (consultant), Catherine Kerr (co-investigator), Eric Jacobson (co-investigator), Mary Quilty (RA) Collaborating Institutions: Research Faculty and Staff
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New England School of Acupuncture
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