Research in Homeopathy, Selected randomised clinical trials of homeopathy

Selected randomised clinical trials of homeopathy

Glue ear
A randomized comparison of homeopathic and standard care for the treatment of glue ear in children ¹⁸

The authors' objective in this randomized controlled trial was to pilot a model for determining whether homeopathic treatment of children suffering from glue ear is more effective than standard GP care at producing a return to normal hearing within 12 months. The setting for the study was General Practice in two locations in southern England.

The trial included 33 children, aged 18 months to 8 years, suffering from otitis media with effusion, hearing loss greater than 20 dB and an abnormal tympanogram. The principal outcome measures were hearing loss, tympanogram, referrals to specialists, and number of courses of antibiotics at 12-month follow-up.

More homeopathy patients than controls had a normal tympanogram (75 vs. 31%, P=0.015). Referrals to specialists and antibiotic consumption were lower in the homoeopathy group, though differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. A higher proportion of children receiving homeopathic care had a hearing loss less than 20 dB at follow-up (64% vs. 56%), though this difference did not reach statistical significance.

The authors conclude that further research comparing homeopathy to standard care is warranted. Assuming recovery rates of 50% and 30% in homeopathy and standard care groups respectively, 270 patients would be needed for a definitive trial. This is probably typical of the number of patients required for the conduct of homeopathy trials of adequate power to detect an actual treatment effect for many other medical conditions.

<< Back to text

		Selected randomised clinical trials of homeopathy
		Asthma Influenza Glue ear Pain Upper respiratory tract infection Glue ear A randomized comparison of homeopathic and standard care for the treatment of glue ear in children ¹⁸ The authors' objective in this randomized controlled trial was to pilot a model for determining whether homeopathic treatment of children suffering from glue ear is more effective than standard GP care at producing a return to normal hearing within 12 months. The setting for the study was General Practice in two locations in southern England. The trial included 33 children, aged 18 months to 8 years, suffering from otitis media with effusion, hearing loss greater than 20 dB and an abnormal tympanogram. The principal outcome measures were hearing loss, tympanogram, referrals to specialists, and number of courses of antibiotics at 12-month follow-up. More homeopathy patients than controls had a normal tympanogram (75 vs. 31%, P=0.015). Referrals to specialists and antibiotic consumption were lower in the homoeopathy group, though differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. A higher proportion of children receiving homeopathic care had a hearing loss less than 20 dB at follow-up (64% vs. 56%), though this difference did not reach statistical significance. The authors conclude that further research comparing homeopathy to standard care is warranted. Assuming recovery rates of 50% and 30% in homeopathy and standard care groups respectively, 270 patients would be needed for a definitive trial. This is probably typical of the number of patients required for the conduct of homeopathy trials of adequate power to detect an actual treatment effect for many other medical conditions. << Back to text		Table of contents Homeopathy: the great debate Clinical research in homeopathy Veterinary homeopathy Issues and controversies Mechanism of action Is homeopathy safe? Is homeopathy cost effective? BHA/Faculty’s research strategy References Research discussion forum C O N T A C T U S S I T E M A P H O M E
		Home \| Faculty of Homeopathy \| British Homeopathic Association \| Research in homeopathy © 2000 - 2007 British Homeopathic Association. Site developed by Chord9 Ltd.