RESUMO
AIM: To explore the factors influencing individuals' willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted from January to April 2021 among patients and their family members at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, in Guangzhou, China. The survey gathered data on respondents' willingness, demographic and socioeconomic profiles, as well as their reasons and concerns regarding engagement in clinical trials. RESULTS: Of the 1078 residents surveyed (mean age 31.2±13.1y; 65.8% females) in Guangzhou, 749 (69.5%) expressed a willingness to participate in future ophthalmic clinical trials. Specific characteristics associated with greater willingness included a younger age, lower annual income, higher education, prior participation experience, previous ophthalmic treatment, and a better understanding of clinical trials. With the exception of age, these characteristics were significantly linked to a higher willingness. The primary barrier to participation, expressed by 64.8% of those willing and 54.4% of those unwilling, was "Uncertain efficacy". In terms of motivations, the willing group ranked "Better therapeutic benefits" (35.0%), "Professional monitoring" (34.3%), and "Trust in healthcare professionals" (33.1%) as their top three reasons, whereas the unwilling participants indicated "Full comprehension of the protocol" (46.2%) as the key facilitator. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a substantial willingness to participate in ophthalmic clinical trials and demonstrates the predictive role of demographic and socioeconomic factors. Variations in motivators and concerns between willing and unwilling participants highlight the significance of tailored recruitment strategies. Importantly, the need for and trust in healthcare professionals stand out as powerful motivations, underscoring the importance of enhancing physician-patient relationships, adopting patient-centered communication approaches, and addressing individualized needs to improve accrual rates.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To observe the moxibustion sensation and the clinical therapeutic effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion of two different suspension moxibustion methods and imitation moxibustion apparatus on mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and compare the therapeutic effect of different moxibustion methods. METHODS: A total of 90 patients with mild to moderate KOA were randomized into a hand-held group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off), an imitation moxibustion apparatus group (30 cases) and a moxibustion shelf group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). Ashi point, Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Liangqiu (ST 34) and Xuehai (SP 10) were selected as the frequent acupoint areas to explore and determine the heat-sensitive acupoints, after that, hand-held suspension moxibustion, suspension moxibustion with imitation moxibustion apparatus and suspension moxibustion with moxibustion shelf were adopted in the 3 groups respectively. The treatment was given once every 2 days, and totally 10-time treatment was required in the 3 groups. The moxibustion sensation (composition of moxibustion sensation, number of moxibustion sensation types in individuals and moxibustion sensation intensity) after each treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, the Lysholms knee function score and the depth of effusion and thickness of synovial hyperplasia of affected knee joint before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical therapeutic efficacy was compared in the 3 groups. RESULTS: The compositions of moxibustion sensation and numbers of moxibustion sensation types in individuals in the hand-held group and the moxibustion shelf group were richer, the moxibustion sensation intensity was higher than that in the imitation moxibustion apparatus group (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores were decreased, the Lysholms knee function scores were increased compared before treatment in the 3 groups (P<0.01); the VAS score in the hand-held group was lower than the imitation moxibustion apparatus group (P<0.05), the Lysholms knee function scores in the hand-held group and the moxibustion shelf group were higher than the imitation moxibustion apparatus group (P<0.05). After treatment, the depth of effusion and thickness of synovial hyperplasia of affected knee joint were decreased compared before treatment in the 3 groups (P<0.01), and those in the hand-held group and the moxibustion shelf group were lower than the imitation moxibustion apparatus group (P<0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate in the hand-held group was 79.3% (23/29), which was better than 36.7% (11/30) in the imitation moxibuation apparatus group and 58.6% (17/29) in the moxibustion shelf group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Heat-sensitive moxibustion can effectively treat knee osteoarthritis, while the different suspension moxibustion methods have an influence on clinical therapeutic effect, hand-held suspension moxibustion has the best efficacy.
