Table 2.
Details of acupuncture methods according to Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA).
| Study | Acupuncture rationale | Details of needling | Treatment regimen | Other components | Practi-tioner | Comparator interventions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a | 1b | 1c | 2a | 2b | 2c | 2d | 2e | 2f | 2g | 3a | 3b | 4a | 4b | 5 | 6a | 6b | |
| Zheng et al. (32) | TCM | Y | NA | 10 | GV 24, GB 20 (bilateral), GV 23, GV 29, LI 20 (bilateral), LI 4 (bilateral), ST 36 (bilateral) | 15-40 mm | Deqi | Manual | 40 min | Diameter and length: 0.30 mm & 40 mmNeedle brand: Zhongyan-Electroacupuncture apparatus: 6805C | 60 | Frequency: five times per week Duration: 84 days | NA | NR | NR | Y | Y |
| Tan et al. (34) | TCM | Y | NA | 13 | EX-HN1, GV 29, PC 6 (bilateral), KI 3 (bilateral), ST 40 (bilateral), and LR 3 (bilateral) | 15 mm | NR | Manual | NR | Diameter and length: 0.35 mm & 25 mmNeedle brand: Hwato | 20 | Frequency: five times per week Duration: 12 weeks | NA | NR | Y | Y | Y |
| Xu et al. (33) | TCM | Y | NA | 8 | GV 20, EX-HN 1, GV 24, GB 20 (bilateral) | 12.5-30 mm | Deqi | Electronic | NR | Diameter and length: 0.30 mm & 40 mmNeedle brand: Zhongyan-Electroacupuncture apparatus: 6805C | 24 | Frequency: three times per week Duration: 56 days | NA | NR | NR | Y | Y |
| Liu (35) | TCM | Y | NA | 14 | EX-HN 1, GB 20 (bilateral), GB 39 (bilateral), BL 23 (bilateral), KI3 (bilateral), HT 7 (bilateral) | 7.5-25mm | Deqi | Electronic | 20 min | Diameter and length: NRNeedle brand: NR-Electroacupuncture apparatus: G6805-II | 30 | Frequency: each day Duration: 30 days | NA | NR | NR | NR | Y |
| Du (36) | TCM | Y | NA | 18 | GV 24, GV 14, GV 23, GV 29, GV 16, GV 15, EX-HN 1, KI3 (bilateral), KI4 (bilateral), ST 36 (bilateral), GB 39 (bilateral) | 15-40 mm | Deqi | Manual | 40 min | Diameter and length: 0.30 mm & 25/40 mmNeedle brand: Tianxie-Electroacupuncture apparatus: 6805C | 48 | Frequency: six times per week Duration: 56 days | Y | NR | NR | Y | Y |
| Zhu et al. (37) | TCM | Y | NA | 4 | GV 24, GV 14, GB 39 (bilateral) | ≤ 50 mm | Deqi | Warm | 30 min | Diameter and length: 0.3 mm & 25/40 mmNeedle brand: Hwato | 56 | Frequency: six times per week Duration: 56 days | Y | NR | NR | NR | Y |
| Zhu et al. (38) | TCM | Y | NA | 3 | GV 24, CV 4, GV 4 | 25 mm | Deqi | Warm | 30 min | Diameter and length: 0.3 mm & 50 mmNeedle brand: Hwato | 60 | Frequency: six times per week Duration: 70 days | NA | NR | NR | NR | Y |
| Zhao et al. (39) | TCM | Y | NA | 8 | GV 20, EX-HN 1, GV 24, GB 20 (bilateral) | 15-25 mm | Deqi | Electronic | 30 min | Diameter and length: 0.3 mm & 25/40 mmNeedle brand: Hwato-Electroacupuncture apparatus: G6805-II | 24 | Frequency: three times per week Duration: 56 days | Y | Y | NR | Y | Y |
| Liu (40) | TCM | Y | NA | 9 | GV 20, GB 20 (bilateral), BL 23(bilateral), GB 39 (bilateral), KI3 (bilateral) | 13-25 mm | Deqi | Electronic | NR | Diameter and length: 0.35 mm & 25 mmNeedle brand: Shenlong-Electroacupuncture apparatus: G6805-II | 30 | Frequency: each day Duration: 30 days | NA | NR | NR | Y | Y |
| Jin (41) | TCM | Y | NA | 10 | EX-HN 1, GB 20 (bilateral), BL 23(bilateral), KI3 (bilateral) | 13-25 mm | Deqi | Electronic | 20 min | Diameter and length: 0.30 mm & 40 mmNeedle brand: Hwato-Electroacupuncture apparatus: G6805-II | 45 | Frequency: each day Duration: 45 days | NA | NR | NR | Y | Y |
| Wang (42) | TCM | Y | NA | 12 | GV 20, EX-HN 1, GV 24, GB 20 (bilateral), BL 23(bilateral), KI3 (bilateral) | 25 mm | Deqi | Manual | 30 min | Diameter and length: 0.38 mm & 25-65 mmNeedle brand: Hwato | 28 | Frequency: each day Duration: 28 days | NA | NR | NR | Y | Y |
1a, Style of acupuncture; 1b, Reasoning for the treatment provided; 1c, Extent to which treatment was varied; 2a, Number of needle insertions per subject per session; 2b, Names of points used; 2c, Depth of insertion; 2d, Response sought; 2e, Needle stimulation; 2f, Needle retention time; 2g, Needle type; 3a, Number of treatment sessions; 3b, Frequency and duration of treatment sessions; 4a, Details of other interventions administered to the acupuncture group; 4b, Setting and context of treatment; 5, Description of participating acupuncturists; 6a, Rationale for the control or comparator; 6b, A precise description of the control or comparator; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; NA, not applied; NR, not recorded; Y, Yes; &, and.