Table 1.
The search strategy in PubMed.
| Number | Search items |
|---|---|
| 1 | Functional constipation |
| 2 | Chronic functional constipation |
| 3 | Chronic constipation |
| 4 | Idiopathic constipation |
| 5 | Slow transit constipation |
| 6 | Functional gastrointestinal disorder |
| 7 | Functional defecatory disorder |
| 8 | Chronic severe functional constipation |
| 9 | Constipation |
| 10 | FC |
| 11 | CC |
| 12 | CSFC |
| 13 | Or 1–12 |
| 14 | Acupuncture |
| 15 | Acupuncture therapy |
| 16 | Acupuncture needle |
| 17 | Manual acupuncture |
| 18 | Electroacupuncture |
| 19 | Needling |
| 20 | MA |
| 21 | EA |
| 22 | Or 14–21 |
| 23 | Randomized controlled trial |
| 24 | Controlled clinical trial |
| 25 | Randomized |
| 26 | Randomly |
| 27 | Trial |
| 28 | Or 23–27 |
| 29 | Exp animals/not humans |
| 30 | 28 not 29 |
| 31 | 13 and 22 and 30 |