Detecting Auricular Points in OFP by a Novel APD ( APD-OFP)
Detecting Auricular Points in OFP by a Novel APD ( APD-OFP)
This is a pilot diagnostic accuracy study conducted to assess the diagnostic ability of a
 novel APD for auricular point detection among patients with orofacial pain, as compared with
 an already commercialized device.
The present study is a pilot diagnostic accuracy study conducted to assess the diagnostic
 ability of a novel APD for auricular point detection among patients with orofacial pain
 (OFP), as compared with an already commercialized device. This study will examine if the
 novel APD is more reliable than the traditional devices currently available in the market.
 Moreover, this study will also use the APD device to test the cutaneous electrical impedance
 of the ear and further assess whether the orofacial auricular points is with the lowest
 electrical impedance in the OFP population. This pilot study will enroll 12 OFP patients from
 the Department of Anesthesiology, Queen Mary Hospital, the University of Hong Kong. 12
 healthy subjects will be recruited as control from the university community. Auricular
 acupoint detection will be accomplished with the new device and a control device. The
 electrical impedance will be detected and recorded. Patient's condition will also be
 evaluated by the Penn Facial Pain Scale-Revised (2018). The specificity and sensitivity of
 the auricular point detection by the APD device will be calculated. Cohen's kappa coefficient
 (κ) will be used to test the inter-methods reliability, test-retest reliability, and
 inter-tester reliability. Moreover, the Pearson Correlation Coefficient will be used to test
 the correlation between the electrical impedance of the auricular point of the orofacial area
 and the Penn Facial Pain Scale score.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  When pain attacks, the average unilateral orofacial pain severity >=5 point measured
 by a 10-point VAS scale;

 -  Patient with trigeminal neuralgia can be diagnosed according to Trigeminal neuralgia:
 New classification and diagnostic grading for practice and research (Neurology, 2016);

 -  Other kinds of orofacial pain can be diagnosed based on the patient's symptoms;

 -  Provide written inform consent;

 -  Free of any other diagnosed psychological conditions;

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  with any other diseases such as cardiovascular, renal, neurological, digestive,
 hepatic, respiratory disease;

 -  Pregnancy or lactation;

 -  Participation in a clinical study that may interfere with participation in this study;

 -  History of or current tobacco, alcohol use;

 -  Anything that would place the individual at increased risk or preclude the
 individual's full compliance with or completion of the study;

 -  Unable to provide written informed consent due to any reason;