Guidelines for Clinical Research on Acupuncture: 4. General considerations: Ethical considerations

Guidelines for Clinical Research on Acupuncture
(1995; 68 pages)

Table of Contents

	Foreword
	1. Introduction
		Background
		Research on acupuncture
		Need for guidelines for the clinical evaluation of acupuncture
	2. Glossary
		Terms relating to evaluation methodology
		Terms relating specifically to acupuncture studies
	3. Goals and objectives of the guidelines
		Goals
		Objectives
	4. General considerations
		Legal considerations
		Ethical considerations
		Considering the character of acupuncture
		Clinical research
		Laboratory studies
		Animal research
		Education
	5. Research methodology
		Literature review
		Terminology and technology
		Investigators
		Clinical research design and rational use of acupuncture
		Randomized controlled clinical trial design
		Protocol development
		Research knowledge
		Case report forms
		Data management
		Ethics review board
		Statistical analysis
		Monitoring of studies
		Reporting
		Implementation
		Conclusions
	6. Using the guidelines
	Annexes
		Annex 1. Strategic approaches to randomized controlled clinical trials
		Annex 2. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki*
		Annex 3. Report of the Working Group on Clinical Research Methodology for Acupuncture Aomori, Japan, 1-4 June 1994
		Annex 4. List of members, observers and secretariat of the Working group on Clinical Research Methodology for Acupuncture Aomori, Japan 1-4 June 1994
	Bibliography
	Selected WHO publications of related interest
	Back cover

Ethical considerations

Clinical research on acupuncture must be carried out in accordance with all four relevant ethical principles: justice, respect for persons, beneficence and non-maleficence. If animals are used their welfare must be respected.