Website intended for a NZ health professional readership
How effective is acupuncture in reducing headache frequency in adults with episodic or chronic tension-type headache?
Acupuncture, added to routine care or treatment of headaches only on onset (usually with analgesics), in 2 large trials resulted in 48% of participants having headache frequency at least halved, compared with 17% in those given routine care only. In 6 trials comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture, headache frequency halved in 52% of participants receiving acupuncture compared with 43% receiving sham acupuncture. Overall, the quality of the evidence was moderate.
Long-term effects (beyond 4 months) were not investigated in the trials involving routine care. In those involving sham acupuncture, the effect of true acupuncture was still present after 6 months.
Acupuncture is often used for prevention of tension-type headache but its effectiveness is still controversial.
Linde K et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Cochrane Reviews, 2016, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD007587.DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD007587.pub2. This review contains 12 studies involving 2349 participants.
Prostate cancer consultations are common in primary care and there is no one approach to testing and treatment that fits all patients. Urologist Simon van Rij discusses the key considerations and options for personalised care, appropriate investigation and treatment
![Amtech Medical marketing manager Jasmine Anderson and Ebos Health senior account manager Sageran Naidoo [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/2%28a%29.JPG?itok=Jdm5dZdg)
![Medtech CEO Geoffrey Sayer and MyPractice founder and Auckland-based specialist GP Ashwin Patel [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/3%28a%29.JPG?itok=LdPwyQwJ)
![Mahoe Medical Centre administration managers Ashlee Herbert and Julie-Ann Foreman [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/4%28b%29.JPG?itok=_NUoSaY2)
![Broadway Health Management Centre administrators Stef LeGros and Julie Johnson [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/5%28b%29.JPG?itok=Q5P9RMB1)
![Newtown Union Health Service administrators Tunisia Pohatu and Waty Arief-Macher [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/6%28a%29.JPG?itok=ttzKlXLf)
![SR Referrals client support staff Athulya Mohandas and Shona Cribb and support manager Amy Moyle [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/7%28a%29.JPG?itok=11zaUO5S)
![Webtools implementation specialist Hannah Laurie and head of marketing Bridget Holland [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/11%28b%29.JPG?itok=4Q_1zwTg)
![DataCraft Analytics operations manager Rachel Blanch and managing director Jayden Macrae [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/1%28c%29.JPG?itok=ipS4z2aa)
![Collaborative Aotearoa CEO Jess Morgan-French, Three Rivers Medical general manager Michelle Te Kira and Third Age Health chief executive Tony Wai [Image: NZD]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2024-09/10%28a%29.JPG?itok=t2X4h7nC)
