Chan 2012.

Methods	Randomisation by random sequences on black paper Single‐blind (participants blinded): outcome assessors blinded
Participants	1 centre in Hong Kong 87 participants with neurogenic dysphagia with similar baseline characteristics 60 (69%) participants with dysphagia due to cerebral infarct < 6 months; other causes of neurogenic dysphagia include intracranial haemorrhage, vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease Clinical evidence of dysphagia
Interventions	All groups given routine swallowing therapy Rx 1: true acupuncture (n = 20) Rx 2: sham acupuncture that did not puncture true acupoints lying on a meridian (n = 19) C: routine swallowing therapy only (n = 48) Treatment for up to 4 weeks
Outcomes	Outcomes: Royal Brisbane Hospital Outcome Measure Scale (RBHOMS), swallow function by consistencies of ingested food and fluid
Notes	Exclusions: structural oral, pharyngeal, or oesophageal disease; severe primary disease of the liver, kidneys, hematopoietic system, or endocrine system; malignant tumour or infectious disease; inability to follow commands Follow‐up: 3 months
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomisation by random sequences
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Allocation concealed in opaque envelopes
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Single (participants) blinded
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Single (participants) blinded
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcome assessors blinded
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	No losses to follow‐up reported
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	All outcomes reported
Other bias	Low risk	None identified