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Publications - Scientific and Clinical Articles

MacPherson H, Nahin R, Paterson C, Cassidy CM, Lewith GT, and Hammerschlag R, Developments in Acupuncture Research: Big-Picture Perspectives from the Leading Edge. Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine, 2008: 14(7): 883–887.

Schnyer R, Lao L, Hammerschlag R, Wayne P, Langevin HM, Napadow V, Harris R, Park JB, Milley R, Cohen M, MacPherson H. Society for Acupuncture Research: 2007 Conference Report: “The Status and Future of Acupuncture Research: 10 Years Post–NIH Consensus Conference” Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine, 2008 14(7): 859–860.

Bell-Syer SEM, Thorpe LN, Thomas K, MacPherson H. GP participation and recruitment of patients to RCTs: lessons from trials of acupuncture and exercise for low back pain in primary care. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2008. doi:10.1093/ecam/nen044.

MacPherson H, Thomas K. Self-help advice as a process integral to traditional acupuncture care: implications for trial design. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2008; 16(2):101-6.

Reynolds JA, Bland JM, MacPherson H. Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome an exploratory randomised controlled trial. Acupuncture in Medicine 2008; 26(1):8-16. 

MacPherson H, Green G, Nevado A, Lythgoe MF, Lewith G, Devlin R, Haselfoot R, Asghar AUR.  Brain imaging of acupuncture: Comparing superficial with deep needling.  Neuroscience Letters, 2008 434(1): 144-149.

Prady SL, Richmond SJ, Morton VM, MacPherson H.  A Systematic Evaluation of the Impact of STRICTA and CONSORT Recommendations on Quality of Reporting for Acupuncture Trials. PLoS ONE 2008;3(2):e1577. [Full text]

Hopwood V, MacPherson H. Acupuncture Research: Strategies for Clinical Evaluation: Workshop Report, York, July 5–8, 2006. Evidence Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2008; 5(2): 237-240. [Full text]

MacPherson H. Acupuncture for hypertension: a tale of two trials. From the perspective of the acupuncturist. Forsch Komplement Med 2007; 14(6):371-3.

Prady SL, Thomas K, Esmonde L, Crouch S, MacPherson H. The natural history of back pain after a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture vs usual care - long term outcomes. Acupunct Med. 2007; 25(4):121-9.

Prady SL, MacPherson H. Assessing the Utility of the Standards for Reporting Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA): A Survey of Authors. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2007, 13(9): 939-944.

Fonnebo¸ V, Grimsgaard S, Walach H, Ritenbaugh C, Norheim AJ, MacPherson H, Lewith G, Launso¸ L, Koithan M, Falkenberg T, Boon H, Aickin M. Researching complementary and alternative treatments--the gatekeepers are not at home. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2007; 11(7):7. [Full text]  

MacPherson H, Dumville JC. Acupuncture as a potential treatment for non-cardiac chest pain – a survey. Acupuncture in Medicine 2007;25(1-2):18-21.

MacPherson H, Thomas K. Traditional acupuncture for low back pain: developing high quality evidence while maintaining the integrity of the intervention. European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 2007. 5(4): 26-30.

Dumville JC, MacPherson H, Griffith K, Miles JN, Lewin RJ.  Non-cardiac chest pain: a retrospective cohort study of patients who attended a Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic.  Family Practice, 2007; 24(2):152-7.

MacPherson H , Schroer S. Acupuncture as a complex intervention for depression: a consensus method to develop a standardised treatment protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2007; 15(2): 92-100.

Boon H, MacPherson H, Fleishman S, Grimsgaard S, Koithan M, Norheim AJ, and Walach H. Evaluating complex healthcare systems: a critique of four approaches. Evidence Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 2007 4: 279-285. [Full text]

MacPherson H. Acupuncture ad traditional Chinese medicine: researching the practice. Article in Thieme Almanac: Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine. 2007, pp43-48.

Price S, Mercer SW, MacPherson H. Practitioner empathy, patient enablement and health outcomes: a prospective study of acupuncture patients. Patient Education and Counselling. 2006, 63(1-2): 239-245.

Salter GC, Roman M, Bland JM, MacPherson H. Acupuncture for chronic neck pain: a pilot for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2006 Dec 9;7(1):99. [Full text]

MacPherson H, Thorpe L, Thomas KJ. Beyond needling - therapeutic processes in acupuncture care: a qualitative study nested within  low back pain trial. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 2006; 12(9): 873-880.

MacPherson H. Acupuncture research: time to shift from theoretical to practical questions. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 2006; 12(9): 837-39.

Ratcliffe J, Thomas KJ, MacPherson H, Brazier J. A randomised controlled trial of acupuncture care for lower back pain: cost effectiveness analysis. British Medical Journal, 2006; 333: 626-628.

Thomas KJ, MacPherson H, Thorpe L, et al. Randomised controlled trial of a short course of traditional acupuncture compared to usual care for persistent low back pain. British Medical Journal, 2006; 333: 623-626.

MacPherson H, Asghar A. Acupuncture needle sensations associated with De Qi: a classification based on expert's ratings. J Alt Comp Medicine. 2006; 12(7): 633-7.

MacPherson H, Liu B. What patients report on adverse reactions to prescribed Chinese herbal medicine. RCHM Journal. 2006, March, 33-37.

MacPherson H, Sinclair-Lian N, Thomas K. Profiles of acupuncture patients: a national survey. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2006; 14(1): 20-30.

Jackson A, MacPherson H, Hahn S. Acupuncture for tinnitus: a series of six n=1 trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2006; 14(1): 39-46

MacPherson H, Thomas K. Cost-effectiveness of CAM: pragmatic trials are good science. British Medical Journal, 21st Nov 2005; 331(7523):1024. (electronic letter)

MacPherson H, Thomas KJ. Short-term reactions to acupuncture: a cross-sectional survey of patient reports. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2005; 23(3): 112-120.

Thomas KJ, MacPherson H, Thorpe L, Brazier J, Fitter M, Campbell M, Roman M, Morgan A, Walters S, Nicholl JP. Longer term clinical and economic benefits of offering acupuncture care to patients with chronic low back pain. Health Technology Assessment, 2005; 9(32); 1-109.[Executive summary] [Full text]

MacPherson H. Strengthening the case that acupuncture is safe in competent hands. European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 2005; (1): 60-73.

MacPherson H, Liu B. "The safety of Chinese herbal medicine: a pilot for a national survey."   Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 2005; 11(4): 617-626. 

MacPherson H. "Evidence-based acupuncture - a challenge ahead."   Asian Medicine: Tradition and Modernity, 2005; 1(1): 149-161.

MacPherson H, Thorpe L, Thomas K, Geddes D. "Acupuncture for depression: first steps in a clinical evaluation."  Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 2004; 10(6): 1083-1091.

MacPherson H. "Pragmatic clinical trials".  Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2004; 12: 134-140

MacPherson H, Scullion T, Thomas K, Walters S. “Patient reports of adverse events associated with acupuncture: a large scale prospective survey.” Quality & Safety in Health Care. 2004; 13: 349-355

MacPherson H, Thorpe L, Thomas KJ, Campbell M. “Acupuncture for low back pain: traditional diagnosis and treatment of 148 patients in a clinical trial.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2004; 12(1): 38-44.

MacPherson H, Mercer S, Scullion T, Thomas K. “Empathy, enablement and outcome: an exploratory study of acupuncture patients’ perceptions.”  J Alt Comp Medicine. 2003; 9(6): 869-76

Lipman L, Dale J, MacPherson H.   “Attitudes of GPs towards the provision of acupuncture on the NHS.” Complementary  Therapies in Medicine. 2003; 11(2): 110-4.

MacPherson H, Thomas KJ, Walters S, Fitter M.  “How safe is acupuncture?” CAM Journal. 2002; 7:14-22.

MacPherson H, Thomas KJ, Walters S, Fitter M. “Safety in numbers. What practitioners reported about adverse events and treatment reactions following 34,000 acupuncture sessions” European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 2002; 3(6): 13-22.

MacPherson H, Hougham P. “What should we say to our patients about the safety of acupuncture?” British Acupuncture Council News. 2002; 7(1): 15-16.

MacPherson H, Sherman K, Hammerschlag R, Birch S, Lao L, Zaslawski C. "The clinical evaluation of traditional East Asian systems of medicine." Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. 2002; 3(1): 16-19

Sherman K, Lao L, Hopwood V, Kawahita K, MacPherson H, et al. "Matching acupuncture clinical study designs to research questions." Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. 2002; 3(1): 12-15 

MacPherson H, White A, Cummings M, Jobst K, Rose K, Niemtzow, R. “Standards for reporting interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture – the STRICTA recommendations.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2001; 9(4): 246-9. [Full text pdf] {Also published in J Altern Complement Med. 2002; 8(1): 85-9 [Full Text pdf]; Acupuncture in Medicine. 2002; 20(1): 22-5 [Full text pdf]; Clinical Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine 2002; 3(1): 6-9 [Full text pdf]; and Medical Acupuncture. 2002; 13(3): 9-11.}

White A, Cummings M, Hopwood V, MacPherson H. "Informed consent for acupuncture: an information leaflet developed by consensus." Acupuncture in Medicine. 2001 19(2):123-9. 

MacPherson H, Thomas K, Walters S, Fitter M.  "A prospective survey of adverse events and treatment reactions following 34,000 consultations with professional acupuncturists." Acupuncture in Medicine. 2001; 19(2): 93-102.

Thorpe L, Thomas K, Fitter M, Brazier J, MacPherson H, Campbell M, Nicholl J, Morgan A, Roman M. "Longer term clinical and economic benefits of offering acupuncture to patients with chronic low back pain assessed as suitable for primary care management." Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2001; 55 (Supp. 1): A53.

MacPherson H, Thomas KJ, Walters S, Fitter M. "The York Safety Study: a prospective survey of 34,000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists".  British Medical Journal 2001; 323: 486-487.

MacPherson H. “Workshop report: Acupuncture and science – fundamental contradiction or creative tension.” Complement Ther Med. 2001 9(2): 122.

Gould AJ, MacPherson H. “Patient perspectives on outcomes following treatment with acupuncture.”   Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 2001; 7(3): 261-8.

Riviere K, MacPherson H. “The acupuncture and science debate: highlights of the joint British Acupuncture Council and Exeter University workshop.” British Acupuncture Council News 2001; 6(2): 10-11.

MacPherson H. ”Making research our own: positive steps in a challenging environment.” British Acupuncture News 2001; 5(6): 16-18.

MacPherson H, Lewith GT, 2001 “On the reporting of adverse events following acupuncture.” Physiotherapy Journal 2001; 87(1): 21-24.

MacPherson H.  “Pragmatic research: with a focus on low back pain.” Journal of Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, 2000; October; 29-32.

MacPherson H.  “Out of the laboratory and into the clinic: acupuncture research in the real world.” International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 2000; 1(2): 97-100.

Wheeler J, MacPherson H. “Towards a research strategy for the acupuncture profession: a discussion document.” British Acupuncture Council News, 2000; 5(2): 8-14.

MacPherson H.  “The York Back Pain Trial: should GPs offer patients with back pain the option of a referral to a traditional acupuncturist?” British Acupuncture Council News. 1999; 4(3): 6-8.

MacPherson H.  "How safe is acupuncture? Developing the evidence on risk." Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 1999; 5(3): 223-224.

Thomas KJ, Fitter M, Brazier J, MacPherson H, Campbell M, Nicholl JP, Roman M. "Longer term clinical and economic benefits of offering acupuncture to patients with chronic low back pain assessed as suitable for primary care management." Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 1999; 7(2): 91-100.

MacPherson H, Gould AJ, Fitter M. "Acupuncture for low back pain: results of a pilot study for a randomised controlled trial." Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 1999; 7(2): 83-90.

MacPherson H. “Evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine: acupuncture and asthma.” Proceedings of Moving With The Sun Conference, 1999, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

MacPherson H. "Fatal and adverse events from acupuncture: allegation, evidence and the implications." Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 1999; 5(1): 47-56. [Abstract]

MacPherson H. "How safe is acupuncture? Setting the record straight." Caduceus 1998; 42: 37-39.

MacPherson H. "Acupuncture and higher education." British Acupuncture Council Newsletter. 1998; 3(4): 8-9.

MacPherson H, Gould A. "Grasping the nettle: a response to reports of adverse events from acupuncture." European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 1998; 2(5): 19-26.

MacPherson H & Fitter M,   "Factors that influence outcome: an evaluation of change with acupuncture." Acupuncture in Medicine. 1998; 16(1): 33-39.

MacPherson H. "A steep learning curve: the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board seven years on." British Acupuncture Council Newsletter. 1998; 3(1): 10-11.

MacPherson H, Kaptchuk TJ, Eds. "Acupuncture in practice: case history insights from the West." Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh 1997, pp482. (Also published in Italian, German and Portuguese.)

MacPherson H, Blackwell R.   "A Master’s degree in acupuncture: a landmark for the profession." Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 1996; 4(3): 190-192.

MacPherson H, Fitter M. "An agenda for acupuncture research: the work of the Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine." Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 1996; 4(2): 124-126.

MacPherson H. "Great talents ripen late: continuing education and the acupuncture profession." European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 1995; 1(6): 35-39.

Fitter M, MacPherson H. "An audit of case studies of low back pain: a feasibility study for a controlled trial." European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 1995; 1(5): 46-55.

MacPherson H. "Body palpation and diagnosis." Journal of Chinese Medicine, 1994; 44: 5-12.

MacPherson H, Blackwell R. "Rheumatoid arthritis and Chinese medicine - a review." European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 1994; 1(3): 17-29.

MacPherson H.    "The path to mastery - a case for supervision". European Journal of Oriental Medicine. 1993; 1(2): 6-11. (Reprinted in the USA in the Journal of the National Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 1995.)

Blackwell R, MacPherson H. "Multiple sclerosis - staging and patient management." Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1993; 42: 5-12. (Also published in French in Medicine Chinoise & Medicine Orientales 1994; No 9.)

MacPherson H. "The treatment of prostate disorders." Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1993 41:5-9.

MacPherson H, Blackwell R. "Tired out - approaches to tiredness and fatigue". Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1992; 40: 13-20.

Blackwell R, MacPherson H.    "Bright eyes - the treatment of eye diseases by acupuncture." Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1992; 39: 5-12.

MacPherson H. "The treatment of neck and upper back pain with acupuncture". Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1992; 38:22-26.

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