Janet Eldred

TL;DR: Outcome over 1 year from a randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture or Alexander Technique lessons versus usual care for persons with chronic, nonspecific neck pain was a significant reduction in neck pain.

TL;DR: Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option, and significant differences between true and sham acupuncture indicate that acupuncture is more than a placebo.

TL;DR: The most robust evidence from high-quality trials on acupuncture for chronic pain is provided and the potential role of acupuncture as a referral option in health care is considered, enabling providers and policy-makers to make decisions based on robust sources of evidence.

TL;DR: In comparison with usual care, acupuncture is likely to be cost-effective for chronic neck pain, whereas, largely due to higher intervention costs, Alexander lessons are unlikely to becost-effective.

TL;DR: This study will provide robust evidence on whether there are significant clinical benefits to patients, economic benefits demonstrating value for money, and sufficient levels of acceptability and safety, in a rigorously conducted pragmatic trial with an embedded qualitative study.