Table 2.

Timetable for data collection

Data elements	Therapeutic Session					Follow-up Period
	Minimum treatmenta			…	Last Visit	Minimum follow-upb			…
	First Visit	Second Visit	Thirdly Visit			Week 1	Week 12	Week 24
Demographic information	✓
CLBP information	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Diagnosis	✓
Lumbar imaging	✓
Informed Consent	✓
Acupuncture rationale	✓
Acupuncture details	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Acupuncture regimen	✓
Combined therapy	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Numerical Rating scale (NRS)	✓				✓	✓	✓	✓
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)	✓				✓	✓	✓	✓
Adverse event	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Disease status						✓	✓	✓	✓

^aThe number of acupuncture treatments shall be no less than three times, ^bNo less than three follow-up visits