Psychophysical responses in patients receiving a mock laser within context of an acupuncture clinical trial: an interoceptive perspective

Table 4 Comparison of the intensity of individual De Qi characteristics between the study groups

De Qi Psychophysical Characteristics	Acupuncture				Mock Laser
De Qi Psychophysical Characteristics	N*	Interval range	Mdn	Mean Rank	N*	Intervalrange	Mdn	Mean Rank	U	p value
1. Soreness	nil	0 - 9	4	109.1	25	0 - 6	0	51.7	1076.5	.000^***
2. Aching	nil	0 - 8	2	103.6	24	0 - 7	0	60.1	1678.5	.000^***
3. Deep Pressure	nil	0 - 8	3	107.3	24	0 - 6	0	55.5	1331.5	.000^***
4. Heaviness	nil	0 - 8	2	104.9	24	0 - 6	0	58.5	1552.0	.000^***
5. Fullness/ Distension	nil	0 - 9	3	105.7	24	0 - 7	0	57.5	1484.5	.000^***
6. Tingling	nil	0 - 9	1	96.01	24	0 - 6	0	69.8	2396.0	.000^***
7. Numbness	1	0 - 9	2	103.1	24	0 - 5	0	59.9	1660.5	.000^***
8. Sharp Pain	nil	0 - 8	1	93.1	24	0 - 5	0	73.6	2669.5	.006^**
9. Dull Pain	nil	0 - 8	1	95.1	26	0 - 9	0	68.4	2294.0	.000^***
10. Warmth	nil	0 - 8	0	89.9	25	0 - 8	0	76.3	2870.5	.022^*
11. Cold	nil	0 - 9	0	96.1	24	0 - 7	0	69.7	2382.0	.000^***
12. Throbbing	18	0 - 7	0	82.9	27	0 - 7	0	64.4	2015.0	.000^***

Comparison of individual De Qi qualities mean ranks among the study groups using Mann-Whitney U test (* p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001); N* = number of missing data, Mdn = Median; Mock laser group (Centre 3) was also excluded for analysis

ISSN: 2662-7671