JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

Acupuncture, a fundamental practice in traditional Chinese medicine, remains widely practiced in clinical settings throughout modern China. While its therapeutic effectiveness continues to be debated, with some scholars referring to it as a “theatrical placebo,” the procedure itself carries significant procedural real risks. It requires exceptional precision and skill; failure to meet these demands can result in complications such as subcutaneous hemorrhage or abscesses, bacterial or fungal infections, sensory and motor nerve damage, pneumothorax, and even internal organ injuries. Mastery of safe and accurate needling techniques requires extensive practice and timely, high-quality feedback, which are often insufficient in traditional training environments.

Objective:

Objective:

This study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of AcuTouch, a multimodal feedback-assisted training system designed to improve needle insertion accuracy and reduce procedural risks during simulated acupuncture training.

Methods:

Methods:

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 40 student practitioners enrolled in traditional Chinese medicine training programs. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=20), which complete training tasks using the AcuTouch feedback system, or a control group (n=20), which followed conventional instructional methods. All participants performed simulated needling tasks at three intervals: prior to training (T0), during training (T1), and after training (T2). The evaluation focused on three key metrics between 2 groups: (1) the number of successful needle insertions that reached the target depth, (2) the frequency of simulated anatomical injuries during the needling tasks, and (3) participants’ perceptions of system usability, gathered through a post-use questionnaire based on established usability assessment methods.

Results:

Results:

Experiment 1 demonstrated a significant improvement in insertion accuracy among participants trained with the AcuTouch system, with average success rates increasing from 1.30–2.25 at baseline (T0) to 3.20–8.40 at T1 and remaining high at T2 (6.25–7.30) even without system assistance. The control group showed only minor gains. In Experiment 2, which measured the frequency of simulated anatomical injuries, the experimental group reduced high-risk tissue contacts from 6.9 at T0 to 3.2 at T1, with sustained improvement at T2 (3.4). In contrast, the control group showed no meaningful change. In Experiment 3, post-use questionnaire responses indicated high usability, with average ratings between 4.4 and 4.6 on a 5-point scale, reflecting positive user experience.

Conclusions:

Conclusions:

The AcuTouch system improved the accuracy of needle insertion and reduced procedural errors in simulated acupuncture training. Participants maintained their performance even after the feedback was no longer provided. Positive usability responses also indicate that the system may be suitable for broader use in acupuncture education.