2026 Workshop Programme

NICE guidelines prioritise double blind RCTs. This means complex interventions such as acupuncture and integrated approaches are at a disadvantage. This presentation takes a close look at the underlying decisions made during the development of the NICE clinical guidelines for osteoarthritis. Misunderstandings about acupuncture, inappropriate placebo controls, and different assessment criteria resulted in a recommendation not to use acupuncture. In the interest of patients, a more holistic approach is required.