Expectation and Perception of Satisfaction in Patients with Chronic or Acute Pain Treated with Acupuncture: A Secondary Analysis of 2 Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: This study aimed to assess the influence of expectations on satisfaction and pain perception in individuals with chronic pain or acute pain who received acupuncture.Methods: A secondary analysis of data from 2 randomized studies was performed. Study 1 included 40 patients with temporomandibular disorders and chronic pain who were assigned to either real or nonpenetrating (sham) acupuncture group. Study 2 involved 28 patients with pulpitis and acute pain, also randomized into a real or sham group. Expectations and satisfaction were assessed using the Likert scale, and pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).Results: For acupuncture treatment, expectations did not differ between chronic and acute pain (p = 0.097), but satisfaction was higher in individuals with acute pain [median (min-max): 3 (2-4)] compared with individuals with chronic pain [3 (0-4), p = 0.029]. The initial VAS score was greater in the acute pain [7.3 (5-10) versus chronic pain [5.5 (1-9), p = 0.020], whilst the final VAS score was similar [0.5 (0-10) vs. 1.5 (0-8), p = 0.959]. Pain reduction was larger for acute pain [5.3 (0.6-10)] compared with chronic pain [3 (0-7), p = 0.043]. In the placebo groups, expectations differed (higher expectations were observed in participants with chronic pain compared with acute pain; p = 0.034), but satisfaction did not (p = 0.559).Conclusion: Patient expectations of acupuncture treatment influenced pain outcomes but not satisfaction. Acupuncture reduced pain in both chronic and acute conditions.