Assessment of retention of training in improving the accuracy of needle penetration depth.
Hirohisa Miyachi, Miyono Okinaka, Tsunehiko Wada
PMID 38694017WHAT IT FOUND
Fifteen acupuncture students improved needle-depth accuracy on a gel from 4.2 mm error to 1.3 mm after two weeks of demonstration, fingertip contact, guide-piece, and daily practice, and the gain remained 28 days later.
Key findings
01The error distance from the 15 mm target was 4.2 mm before training, 1.3 mm at the end of the 2-week training, and 1.5 mm 28 days after training.
02Accuracy and required time did not differ significantly between the end of training and post-training.
03All 15 participants completed the instructed training methods and the 2-week self-training.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study included only 15 acupuncture students, so the results are small and may not apply to other trainees or clinicians. There was no comparison group, so the study does not show that the training caused the improvement. The training included demonstration, fingertip contact, guide-piece checking, and daily self-practice, so the study cannot show which component produced the improvement. The needles were inserted into a training gel, not into a human body, so the findings may not transfer to real patient treatment. Retention was checked only 28 days after training, so the study does not show whether the skill persists over months or years. All participants were right-handed students at one vocational school, which limits generalisation to other populations.
Declared interests
The paper states that there are no conflicts of interest to declare.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this training improves patient safety or applies to physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology. The study measured needle-depth accuracy in acupuncture students using a training gel, not patient outcomes.