Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108237

Bei-Hung Chang, ScD¹, Ulrike Boehmer, PhD¹, Elizabeth Sommers, MPH, LicAc², and Yue Zhao, MS¹. (1) Health Services, Boston University School of Public Health, 200 Springs Road (152), Building 70, Bedford, MA 01730, 781-275-7500x6007, bhchang@bu.edu, (2) Research, Pathways to Wellness, 142 Berkeley St. - 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02116

Objectives: To test the feasibility of conducting a 2-arm, randomized trial of relaxation response in HIV+ patients who are receiving acupuncture. To report the experiences and self-reported changes from study participation.

Methods: HIV+ patients who were receiving acupuncture were recruited into study between June 2003 and September 2004. While receiving acupuncture, intervention group participants wore earphones to listen to tapes with instructions to elicit the relaxation response and soft music, while the control group only listened to soft music. All study participants were asked to fill out a study evaluation upon completion of the 12-week study.

Results: Thirty-five intervention patients and 44 control patients completed the study evaluation. These two groups were similar in age (mean± SD=45.4±7.7), gender (14% female), race (68% white), and HIV status (61% HIV+/non-AIDS, 33% AIDS, & 6% status unknown). A majority of participants in both groups reported: no discomfort wearing earphones (82.4%, 81.8%), the study met their expectations (86.7%, 85.4%), and they will recommend the study to others (90.9%, 90.5%). Intervention participants reported better experiences with the tape than the control group (p=.056) (72.4% vs. 52.8% felt better with tapes during acupuncture, 3.5% vs. 16.7% felt better without tapes, 24.1% vs. 30.6% felt no difference). Intervention participants were also more likely than the control group (p=.03) to report positive emotional/physical/spiritual changes (43.8% vs. 20.9%) and relaxed/peaceful/calm feelings (31.3% vs. 25.6%) from the study participation.

Conclusions: We demonstrated the feasibility of conducting the trial and the intervention group reported more positive experiences than the control group.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to
• 1.Describe the feasibility of conducting the Relaxation Response with Acupuncture trial.
• 2.Articulate the differences in participant experiences between the study intervention and control groups.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.