Simple effect analysis of RMDQ scores in four groups_
| Time point | Mean difference | Standard error | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | 0.636 | 0.662 | 0.917 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | 0.136 | 0.662 | 1.000 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | 1.409 | 0.662 | 0.198 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | –0.500 | 0.662 | 0.973 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 0.773 | 0.662 | 0.816 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 1.273 | 0.662 | 0.300 | |
| T2 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | 1.227 | 0.673 | 0.361 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | 2.409 | 0.673 | 0.003 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | 4.636 | 0.673 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | 1.182 | 0.673 | 0.405 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 3.409 | 0.673 | <0.001 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 2.227 | 0.673 | 0.008 | |
| T3 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | 2.091 | 0.715 | 0.026 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | 5.455 | 0.715 | <0.001 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | 6.500 | 0.715 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | 3.364 | 0.715 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 4.409 | 0.715 | <0.001 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 1.045 | 0.715 | 0.615 |
Comparison of clinical efficacy after treatment in four groups_
| Group | Clinical efficacy | Effective rate | χ2 | P-value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery | Remarkable effect | Effective | Invalid | ||||
| Control group | 1 (4.5%) | 3 (13.6%) | 10 (45.5%) | 8 (36.4%) | 57.9% | 10.266 | 0.013 |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 1 (4.5%) | 9 (40.9%) | 7 (31.8%) | 5 (22.7%) | 77.3% | ||
| 30-min moxibustion group | 3 (13.6%) | 11 (50.0%) | 6 (27.3%) | 2 (9.1%) | 90.9% | ||
| 45-min moxibustion group | 5 (22.7%) | 13 (59.1%) | 3 (13.6%) | 1 (4.5%) | 95.5% | ||
Simple effect analysis of JOA scores in four groups_
| Time point | Mean difference | Standard error | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | –0.773 | 0.605 | 0.747 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | –0.182 | 0.605 | 1.000 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | –0.727 | 0.605 | 0.795 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | 0.591 | 0.605 | 0.911 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 0.045 | 0.605 | 1.000 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | –0.545 | 0.605 | 0.937 | |
| T2 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | –1.091 | 0.599 | 0.362 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | –4.273 | 0.599 | <0.001 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | –4.682 | 0.599 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | –3.182 | 0.599 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | –3.591 | 0.599 | <0.001 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | –0.409 | 0.599 | 0.984 | |
| T3 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | –4.318 | 0.857 | <0.001 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | –6.909 | 0.857 | <0.001 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | –8.227 | 0.857 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | –2.591 | 0.857 | 0.020 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | –3.909 | 0.857 | <0.001 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | –1.318 | 0.857 | 0.559 |
Characteristics of patients at baseline_
| Items | Control group (n = 22) | 15-min moxibustion group (n = 22) | 30-min moxibustion group (n = 22) | 45-min moxibustion group (n = 22) | χ2/F/Z | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | χ2 =0.502 | 0.918 | ||||
| Male | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ||
| Female | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | ||
| Age, years | 52.50 ± 12.54 | 54.73 ± 11.23 | 50.59 ± 13.47 | 51.59 ± 12.10 | Z = 0.448 | 0.719 |
| Height, cm | 165.68 ± 7.63 | 166.68 ± 7.40 | 165.59 ± 7.37 | 165.36 ± 8.68 | Z = 0.124 | 0.946 |
| Weight, kg | 67.95 ± 10.73 | 70.59 ± 11.67 | 66.82 ± 12.91 | 69.59 ± 12.39 | Z = 0.434 | 0.729 |
| Duration of disease, month | 21 (11.25–63.00) | 18 (10.00–51.00) | 18 (4.50–63.00) | 12 (4.00–75.00) | χ2 = 0.296 | 0.961 |
| Degree of education | F = 9.307 | 0.400 | ||||
| Primary school and below | 2 (9.1%) | 4 (18.2%) | 1 (4.5%) | 1 (4.5%) | ||
| Middle school | 12 (54.5%) | 12 (54.5%) | 8 (36.4%) | 9 (40.9%) | ||
| College degree | 2 (9.1%) | 3 (13.6%) | 7 (31.8%) | 7 (31.8%) | ||
| Bachelor degree or above | 6 (27.3%) | 3 (13.6%) | 6 (27.3%) | 5 (22.7%) | ||
| TCM classification | F = 2.230 | 0.897 | ||||
| Blood stasis type | 8 (36.4%) | 8 (36.4%) | 10 (45.5%) | 11 (50.0%) | ||
| Cold dampness type | 9 (20.9%) | 11 (50.0%) | 8 (36.4%) | 7 (31.8%) | ||
| Yang deficiency type of liver and kidney deficiency | 5 (22.7%) | 3 (13.6%) | 4 (18.2%) | 4 (18.2%) | ||
| VAS | 5.09 ± 1.07 | 4.82 ± 1.30 | 4.68 ± 1.32 | 4.64 ± 1.26 | Z = 0.600 | 0.617 |
| RMDQ | 14.45 ± 1.95 | 13.82 ± 2.46 | 14.32 ± 2.19 | 13.05 ± 2.15 | Z = 1.857 | 0.143 |
| JOA | 11.77 ± 2.18 | 12.55 ± 2.18 | 11.95 ± 1.76 | 12.50 ± 1.87 | Z = 0.824 | 0.484 |
Simple effect analysis of VAS score in the 4 groups_
| Time point | Mean difference | Standard error | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | 0.273 | 0.374 | 0.977 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | 0.409 | 0.374 | 0.857 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | 0.455 | 0.374 | 0.787 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | 0.136 | 0.374 | 0.999 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 0.182 | 0.374 | 0.997 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 0.045 | 0.374 | 1.000 | |
| T2 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | 0.682 | 0.362 | 0.323 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | 2.182 | 0.362 | <0.001 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | 2.136 | 0.362 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | 1.500 | 0.362 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 1.455 | 0.362 | <0.001 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | –0.045 | 0.362 | 1.000 | |
| T3 | Control group | 15-min moxibustion group | 0.773 | 0.375 | 0.229 |
| Control group | 30-min moxibustion group | 1.818 | 0.375 | <0.001 | |
| Control group | 45-min moxibustion group | 2.273 | 0.375 | <0.001 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 30-min moxibustion group | 1.045 | 0.375 | 0.039 | |
| 15-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 1.500 | 0.375 | <0.001 | |
| 30-min moxibustion group | 45-min moxibustion group | 0.455 | 0.375 | 0.790 |