Wheatley: Accupuncture (Treatment)

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To assess the effectiveness of ear acupuncture in treating substance abuse of prisoners

Question 2

Sample?

Answer 2

• 350 prisoners in 6 high-risk prisoners
• received ear acupuncture+ standard care programme (FOCUS)
• control group did not receive acupuncture but did receive FOCUS
• volunteer sample, randomly allocated

Question 3

Procedure?

Answer 3

• 2 trained practitioners worked with groups of 10-15 prisoners in a relaxed setting
• fine needles inserted into 5 acupuncture points for 40 mins
• then returned to normal duties

Question 4

Results qualitative?

Answer 4

Prisoners reported:
•better sleep
•improved relaxation
•better coping skills
•reduced cravings for nicotine
•amended cognitions
•health improvements

Question 5

Results quantitative?

Answer 5

• 70% reduction in drug related incidents
• 41% reduction in serious incident reports
• 42% reduction in positive drug testing results

Question 6

Conclusion?

Answer 6

Author believes there is enough evidence for the effectiveness of ear acupuncture to deliver across prisons but is most effective when used with other programmes

Question 7

Strengths?

Answer 7

• 60 in each high risk prison= representative
• 2 measures focussing on 2 aspects of healing= holistic
• supports individual debate?
• supports free will as volunteer
• ethical
• qual+quant= higher internal v+r
• useful as was successful

Question 8

Weaknesses?

Answer 8

• ethnocentric= low pop v?
• potentially unethical for control
• supports situational? As groups of 10-15+in prison
• only useful when in conjunction with a care programme

Question 9

Background?

Answer 9

Ear acupuncture= stimulating key points in the ear to reduce cravings for drugs; alternative medicine, not evidence based