OBJECTIVES： To explore the distribution of TCM patterns in ketamine users and the inter-rater reli- ability of TCM diagnosis among TCM practitioners. METHODS： Eighty-four subjects recruited from sub- stance abuse cl...OBJECTIVES： To explore the distribution of TCM patterns in ketamine users and the inter-rater reli- ability of TCM diagnosis among TCM practitioners. METHODS： Eighty-four subjects recruited from sub- stance abuse clinics and non-governmental coun- seling services catering for ketamine abusers were examined by one or two TCM practitioners. The dis- tribution and inter-rater reliability of the TCM diag- noses between the two TCM practitioners were de- scribed and measured. RESULTS： Seven TCM patterns were differentiated. The four most common patterns were the Heart Yin deficiency （29.8%）, Kidney Yang deficiency （26.2%）, Kidney Yin deficiency （19.0%）, and Spleen Yang defi-ciency （14.3%）. The agreement between the two TCM practitioners was 59%, the kappa for the three most common patterns was 0.472 （P=O.O03）. The proportion of men was lower in the Kidney Yin defi- ciency group （18.8%）, in comparison to the Heart Yin deficiency （60.0%, P=0.009） and Kidney Yang de- ficiency group （59.1%, P=0.013）. CONCLUSION： The differences between the TCM groups in terms of the source of referral and num- ber of drug uses other than ketamine were of bor- derline significance. Further research should focus on validating diagnostic tools and improving in- ter-rater reliability in TCM to enhance the quality of clinical trials of TCM treatments for ketamine abuse.展开更多
基金Supported by a Research Grant (No. 8011013315) from the Hospital Authority,Hong Kong SAR
文摘OBJECTIVES： To explore the distribution of TCM patterns in ketamine users and the inter-rater reli- ability of TCM diagnosis among TCM practitioners. METHODS： Eighty-four subjects recruited from sub- stance abuse clinics and non-governmental coun- seling services catering for ketamine abusers were examined by one or two TCM practitioners. The dis- tribution and inter-rater reliability of the TCM diag- noses between the two TCM practitioners were de- scribed and measured. RESULTS： Seven TCM patterns were differentiated. The four most common patterns were the Heart Yin deficiency （29.8%）, Kidney Yang deficiency （26.2%）, Kidney Yin deficiency （19.0%）, and Spleen Yang defi-ciency （14.3%）. The agreement between the two TCM practitioners was 59%, the kappa for the three most common patterns was 0.472 （P=O.O03）. The proportion of men was lower in the Kidney Yin defi- ciency group （18.8%）, in comparison to the Heart Yin deficiency （60.0%, P=0.009） and Kidney Yang de- ficiency group （59.1%, P=0.013）. CONCLUSION： The differences between the TCM groups in terms of the source of referral and num- ber of drug uses other than ketamine were of bor- derline significance. Further research should focus on validating diagnostic tools and improving in- ter-rater reliability in TCM to enhance the quality of clinical trials of TCM treatments for ketamine abuse.
