Investigating the Effect of Acupuncture on improving the quality of smell in patients with persistent Olfactory Dysfunction after infection with the COVID-19 Virus

Investigating the impact of Acupuncture on enhancing Olfactory function in patients experiencing persistent Anosmia following COVID-19 infection.

A parallel-group, single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with concealment of random allocation involving 60 patients.

The present study is a single-blind randomized clinical trial. The study population comprises patients referred to the ear, nose, and throat clinic of Al-Zahra and Kashani hospitals affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences who have not experienced any improvement in their sense of smell in the last month following a COVID-19 infection.

Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the past, who self-report experiencing Olfactory Dysfunction that has not resolved at least one month after recovery from the disease, are eligible for the study. Individuals with a history of head surgery or trauma, chronic severe Inflammatory Diseases, Degenerative Nasal Conditions, Nasal Allergies, or Abnormal Nasal Anatomy will be excluded from the study.

Real Acupuncture is used in the test group. Sham Acupuncture is used in the control group.

Percentage of people with an improved sense of smell

In this study, the Random Allocation method will be used. Before beginning the sampling process, we will establish the Randomization sequence and then proceed with Sampling. In this scenario, we will have two vases. The first vase will contain cards numbered from 1 to 60. In vase number 2, there will be 60 non-transparent envelopes containing the desired type of treatment. First, we will randomly select a card from the first vase and an envelope from the second vase and place them in a designated box. In this way, the number removed from pot #1 will receive the treatment that is removed from pot #2. This process will be repeated for all 60 numbers. That is, we will have 60 numbers in the designated box, and each number will correspond to an envelope containing treatment. It should be noted that the type of treatment will be concealed within the envelope until the patients are assigned, and no individual will be aware of the treatment (real acupuncture or placebo acupuncture) given to the patients until their appointment. In fact, the type of intervention inside each envelope is unclear. It is uncertain whether this method involves randomization concealment. In fact, the treatment assigned to the numbers will not be known until the person visits and the envelope is opened for them.

In a single-blind study, participants are randomly assigned to two groups. In the first group (test group), real acupuncture is used. Sham acupuncture is used in the second group.