Validation of weak magnets as a credible placebo in trials of magnetic therapies

ISRCTN ISRCTN70945668
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN70945668
Secondary identifying numbers N0100168711
Submission date
29/09/2006
Registration date
29/09/2006
Last edited
21/07/2008
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Colin Greaves
Scientific

Wyndham House Surgery
Silverton
EX5 4HZ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1392 860034
Email c.j.greaves@exeter.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Not specified
Study typeNot Specified
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific title
Study objectives1. To determine whether magnetic bracelets of 50mT field strength (at the ventral wrist-facing surface) are sufficiently convincing placebos for use in future trials of magnetic bracelets. The null hypothesis is that the proportion of people believing a bracelet is magnetic will be the same for people given (and allowed to test) 50mT and 180mT bracelets.
2. A secondary hypothesis relates to the difference in strength of belief that each type of bracelet may be therapeutic in relieving osteoarthritis pain.
Ethics approval(s)Added 21 July 2008: the study protocol and procedures were submitted to N&E Devon NHS Research Ethics Committee who considered that, as study design work conducted outside any NHS setting, the study did not require formal Committee approval.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedMusculoskeletal Diseases
InterventionRandomised controlled trial, comparing belief in magnetic status between 2 groups.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureAdded 21 July 2008:
Based on the magnet assigned to the participant, responses to the question "Which kind of magnet do you think you have been given?" [Active /Inactive /Don’t know].
Secondary outcome measuresAdded 21 July 2008:
Based on the magnet assigned to the participant, responses to the question “How convinced are you that wearing this bracelet on your wrist for 3 months would help to relieve pain in your joints?” [visual analogue scale from 0=Not at all to 10 = Totally convinced].
Overall study start date01/10/2005
Completion date01/06/2006

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupNot Specified
SexNot Specified
Target number of participants108
Key inclusion criteria108 osteoarthritis patients who do not currently use magnetic bracelet therapy.
Key exclusion criteriaNot provided at time of registration
Date of first enrolment01/10/2005
Date of final enrolment01/06/2006

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Wyndham House Surgery
Silverton
EX5 4HZ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Record Provided by the NHSTCT Register - 2006 Update - Department of Health
Government

The Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NL
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7307 2622
Email dhmail@doh.gsi.org.uk
Website http://www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en

Funders

Funder type

Government

Mid Devon Primary Care Trust & Mid Devon Research Group (UK)

No information available

NHS R&D Support Funding

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/06/2008 Yes No