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AcupunctureACUITYNCT04880733

Acupuncture in the Emergency Department for Pain Management

A study testing Acupuncture for pain management in people with Acupuncture and Pain Management, run by Case Western Reserve University at 4 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Our goal is to use the R01 mechanism to conduct a two-arm multisite, feasibility RCT (Acupuncture vs Usual Care) to refine procedures for conducting a future fully powered multi-site RCT. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Acupuncture, Pain Management, Emergency Department
What is being tested?
Acupuncture for pain management
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
290 participants
Where
4 sitesUnited States
Study dates
3 May 2021to 31 Aug 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients ≥18 years of age
  • Ability to communicate in English.
  • Level 3, 4, 5 on triage rate scale
  • Presentation with acute non-emergent (musculoskeletal, back, pelvic, non-cardiac chest, abdominal, flank or head) pain ≥4 on a 0-10-point NRS due to non-penetrating injury.

Who cannot join

  • Fever exceeding 100° F
  • Presenting with a chief complaint of a psychological / psychiatric concern
  • Presenting with chief complaint of Migraine
  • Patient arriving via ambulance or skipping triage
  • Current Pregnancy
  • Self-reported opioid medication taken orally within 4 hours
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Presenting with chief complaint of Joint Dislocation
  • Presenting with chief complaint of Bone Fracture
  • Confirmed or suspected COVID-19

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country.

United States4 sites
  • University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University- Cleveland Medical Center

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44106

  • University of California San Diego

    La Jolla, California, 92093

  • Vandebilt University Medical Center

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37232

  • Einstein School of Medicine

    The Bronx, New York, 10461

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Acupuncture in the Emergency Department for Pain Management: A BraveNet Multi-Center Feasibility Study

Our goal is to use the R01 mechanism to conduct a two-arm multisite, feasibility RCT (Acupuncture vs Usual Care) to refine procedures for conducting a future fully powered multi-site RCT. The effort will be led by the BraveNet Coordinating Center at Einstein and include 3 BraveNet PBRN sites University Hospitals/ Case Western Reserve University (UH/Case), Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), and University of California-San Diego (UCSD). During Year 1 (Aim 1), we will develop the manualized acupuncture intervention with consensus from experts in the delivery of acupuncture for acute pain. At the end of Year 1 (prior to the start of the RCT), a study investigator meeting will be held to ensure consistent training of all study coordinators and acupuncturists to the study data collection, human subjects, intervention delivery, and reporting requirements. In Year 2-3 (Aim 2), we will enroll 165 participants (55 per site) into the randomized trial (1:1 assignment to Acupuncture or Usual Care) over a ~9-month enrollment period for each site. Sites will participate in the study sequentially, thus general findings from the implementation evaluation may be used to improve implementation at subsequent sites. Treatment outcomes include pain intensity, state anxiety and pain medication utilization within the ED (via EHR data extraction). In Aim 2a, 75 structured qualitative interviews of ED providers, staff, study acupuncturists (~10 per site) and acupuncture patients (~15 per site) and direct observation at each site will be used to identify barriers and facilitators of successful implementation. The Implementation Evaluation includes two broad categories of data: implementation outcomes (collected in Aim 2 as the feasibility study is conducted at each site) and explanatory factors (Aim 2a).

Read the detailed description

The goal is to use the R01 mechanism to conduct a two-arm multisite, feasibility RCT (Acupuncture vs Usual Care) to refine procedures for conducting a future fully powered multi-site RCT. The effort will include the BraveNet Coordinating Center at Einstein and include 3 BraveNet PBRN sites University Hospitals/ Case Western Reserve University (UH/Case), Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), and University of California-San Diego (UCSD). During Year 1 (Aim 1), the investigators will develop the manualized acupuncture intervention with consensus from experts in the delivery of acupuncture for acute pain. Prior to the start of the RCT at all sites, study investigator meetings will be held to ensure consistent training of all study coordinators and acupuncturists to the study data collection, human subjects, intervention delivery, and reporting requirements. In Year 2-3 (Aim 2), the investigators will enroll 165 participants (55 per site) into the randomized trial (1:1 assignment to Acupuncture or Usual Care) over a ~9-month enrollment period for each site. Sites will participate in the study sequentially, thus general findings from the implementation evaluation may be used to improve implementation at subsequent sites. Study outcomes include responsive manualization of acupuncture intervention, recruitment, retention, patient adoption, patient acceptability, and provider acceptability. Measures will be collected including pain intensity, state anxiety and pain medication utilization within the ED (via EHR data extraction). In Aim 2a, 75 structured qualitative interviews of ED providers, staff, study acupuncturists (~10 per site) and acupuncture patients (~15 per site) and direct observation at each site will be used to identify barriers and facilitators of successful implementation. The Implementation Evaluation includes two broad categories of data: implementation outcomes (collected in Aim 2 as the feasibility study is conducted at each site) and explanatory factors (Aim 2a).

Being tested
Acupuncture for pain management, Usual care for pain management
Medical subject headings
Agnosia, Emergencies, Acute Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Acupuncture for pain managementProcedure or surgery

    A manualized acupuncture protocol will be performed by a licensed acupuncturist in the patient's emergency department room.

  • Usual care for pain managementOther

    Patient will receive usual care for pain management.

Study groups in NCT04880733
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AcupunctureExperimentalThis arm will receive acupuncture for pain management, and any pain medications will be delayed until after receipt of acupuncture.
Receives: Procedure: Acupuncture for pain management; Other: Usual care for pain management
Usual CareActive comparatorThis arm will receive usual care for pain management.
Receives: Other: Usual care for pain management

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Successful Recruitment of Participants Into the Study.

    The recruitment rate (# enrolled / # approached) were assessed for the overall study. Separate recruitment rates were calculated by site.

    Measured: At Enrollment

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Percentage of Participants Retained in the Study at Post Treatment

    Retained patients will be defined as those providing patient reported outcomes scores (e.g., pain, anxiety) at post-treatment. Separate retention rates (# retained / # enrolled) will be assessed overall and by site.

    Measured: At post treatment (45-60 minutes)

  2. Percentage of Patients Retained at 1-week Follow up

    Retained patients will be defined as those providing patient reported outcomes scores at 1 week. Separate retention rates (# retained / # enrolled) will be assessed overall and by site.

    Measured: One-week after the participant was discharged from the ED

  3. Patient Satisfaction Question 1 at Post-treatment

    Question 1: "How satisfied are you with how your pain was managed during your ED visit" on the 5-point Likert scale (1-Very Satisfied; 2-Satisfied; 3-Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied; 4-Dissatisfied; 5-Strongly Dissatisfied).

    Measured: At post-treatment (45-60 minutes after baseline)

  4. Patient Satisfaction Question 2 at Post-treatment

    "Overall how satisfied are you with your treatment during your ED visit?" on the 5-point Likert scale (1-Very Satisfied; 2-Satisfied; 3-Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied; 4-Dissatisfied; 5-Strongly Dissatisfied).

    Measured: At post-treatment (45-60 minutes after baseline)

  5. Patient Satisfaction Question 1 at 1-Week

    "How satisfied are you with how your pain was managed during your ED visit" on the 5-point Likert scale (1-Very Satisfied; 2-Satisfied; 3-Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied; 4-Dissatisfied; 5-Strongly Dissatisfied).

    Measured: One week after participant was discharged from the ED

  6. Patient Satisfaction Question 2 at 1 Week

    "Overall how satisfied are you with your treatment during your ED visit?" on the 5-point Likert scale (1-Very Satisfied; 2-Satisfied; 3-Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied; 4-Dissatisfied; 5-Strongly Dissatisfied).

    Measured: One week after participant was discharged from the ED

  7. Provider Satisfaction Question1

    "Do you view acupuncture in general as an appropriate intervention for the ED setting?" on a 5 point scale (0: Very inappropriate; 1: Inappropriate; 2: Neutral; 4: Appropriate; 4: Very appropriate). Higher scores are better.

    Measured: After enrollment at the provider's site completed (~6 months after first enrollee).

  8. Provider Satisfaction Question 2

    "Do you view acupuncture in general as helpful in managing patient pain in the ED?" on a 5 point scale (0: Not at all helpful; 1: Somewhat Unhelpful; 2: Neutral; 3: Somewhat Helpful; 4: Very Helpful). Higher scores are better.

    Measured: After enrollment at the provider's site completed (~6 months after first enrollee).

  9. Provider Satisfaction Question 3

    "How satisfied are you with the way that the acupuncture intervention was implemented in your setting" on the 5-point Likert scale (4-Very Satisfied; 3-Satisfied; 2-Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied; 1-Dissatisfied; 0-Very Dissatisfied). Higher scores are better

    Measured: After enrollment at the provider's site completed (~6 months after first enrollee).

  10. Provider Satisfaction Que4

    "Did the ACUITY project impose a burden on ED staff in your setting?" on the 4-point Likert scale (0-Not at all a burden; 1-Somewhat of a burden; 2-Moderate burden 3-Extreme burden). Lower scores are better

    Measured: After enrollment at the provider's site completed (~6 months after first enrollee).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 May 2021
  2. Study start3 May 2021
  3. Primary completion24 Sep 2022
  4. Study completion31 Aug 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
290 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04880733
Sponsor's protocol ID
R01AT010598-01A1
Acronym
ACUITY
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
30 Apr 2021
Last updated
5 Jan 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Dusek JA, Kallenberg GA, Storrow AB, Hughes RM, Coyne CJ, Vago DR, Nielsen A, Karasz A, Kim RS, Surdam J, Segall T, Faryar KA, Dyer NL, Barton BA, McKee MD. Acupuncture in the emergency department (ACUITY): Results from a BraveNet multi-center feasibility randomized controlled trial. Integr Med Res. 2024 Dec;13(4):101095. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2024.101095. Epub 2024 Oct 21.

    PubMed 39640074
  • Nielsen A, Dyer NL, Lechuga C, McKee MD, Dusek JA. Fidelity to the acupuncture intervention protocol in the ACUpuncture In The EmergencY department for pain management (ACUITY) trial: Expanding the gold standard of STRICTA and CONSORT guidelines. Integr Med Res. 2024 Jun;13(2):101048. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2024.101048. Epub 2024 May 10.

    PubMed 38841077
  • Dusek JA, Kallenberg GA, Hughes RM, Storrow AB, Coyne CJ, Vago DR, Nielsen A, Karasz A, Kim RS, Surdam J, Segall T, McKee MD. Acupuncture in the emergency department for pain management: A BraveNet multi-center feasibility study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Mar 4;101(9):e28961. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028961.

    PubMed 35244059
  • Nielsen A, Olson J, Quesada M, Zhu C, Raskin E, Vang B, Painovich J, Scott M, Xiong VJ, Dusek JA. Acupuncture intervention for acute pain in the Emergency Department trial: a consensus process. Acupunct Med. 2022 Aug;40(4):339-346. doi: 10.1177/09645284221076507. Epub 2022 Mar 1.

    PubMed 35229658
  • Dyer NL, Surdam J, Dusek JA. A Systematic Review of Practiced-Based Research of Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies as Provided for Pain Management in Clinical Settings: Recommendations for the Future and a Call to Action. Pain Med. 2022 Jan 3;23(1):189-210. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab151.

    PubMed 34009391

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Acupuncture for pain management in people with Acupuncture and Pain Management, run by Case Western Reserve University at 4 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 20 Feb 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Successful Recruitment of Participants Into the Study. (time frame: At Enrollment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04880733, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jan 2026.

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