Characteristics and quality of clinical practice guidelines addressing acupuncture interventions: a systematic survey of 133 guidelines and 433 acupuncture recommendations

Reporting quality of acupuncture overviews: A methodological investigation based on the PRIOR statement

OBJECTIVE

Acupuncture overviews are increasing rapidly; however, their reporting quality is yet unclear. We aimed to investigate the reporting quality of relevant overviews according to the preferred reporting items for overviews of reviews (PRIOR) statement.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed from inception to August 16, 2022 for overviews on acupuncture therapies. Reporting quality of included overviews was evaluated using the PRIOR statement, and the results were cross-checked. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the predictors of the reporting completeness. GraphPad 9.4 was utilized to generate an evidence map, Excel 2019 was used to extract and manage data, and R 4.2.3 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 49 overviews published from 2006 to 2022 were included, of which China ranked first with 38 overviews. The most frequently searched database was PubMed/ Medline (n = 48, 98%), and commonly used methodological quality assessment tool was AMSTAR-2 (n = 14, 29%). The overarching themes centered on acupuncture for obstetrics, gynecology, reproductive diseases, as well as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Reporting quality needs to be improved involving the definition of systematic reviews (SRs), overlap of primary studies and SRs, methods for managing discrepant data across SRs, risk of bias in primary studies, heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis of synthesized results, reporting bias assessment, and registration and protocol. Moreover, publication in recent years and receiving funding support were significantly associated with higher overall reporting quality score (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on the PRIOR statement, this methodological study indicates that the reporting quality of the included acupuncture overviews is poor. In the future, authors of overviews are encouraged to use the PRIOR statement for standardized reporting. Furthermore, it is recommended that journal editors mandate the inclusion of this statement in authors' reports and require a complete PRIOR checklist.

Comprehensive consideration of multiple determinants from evidence to recommendations in guidelines for most traditional Chinese medicine was suboptimal: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The overall comprehensive consideration of the factors influencing the recommendations in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guidelines remains poorly studied. This study systematically evaluate the factors influencing recommendations formation in the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and TCM CPGs.

METHODS

This was a methodological review in which we searched six databases and multiple related websites. The GRADE CPGs were identified as the guidelines developed by the GRADE Working Group or the two Co-Chairs. For the TCM CPGs, we randomly selected guidelines that were published by the TCM or integrative medicine academic societies from China mainland (published by the TCM or integrative medicine academic societies of China mainland). Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. We included CPGs published in 2018-2022. We extracted information on the influencing factors of evidence to recommendation and conducted the analyses using descriptive statistics and calculated the proportion of relevant items by IBM SPSS Statistics and Microsoft Excel to compare the differences between the GRADE CPGs and the TCM CPGs.

RESULTS

Forty-five GRADE CPGs (including 912 recommendations) and 88 TCM CPGs (including 2452 recommendations) were included. TCM recommendations mainly considered the four key determinants of desirable anticipated effects, undesirable anticipated effects, balance between desirable and undesirable effects, certainty of evidence, with less than 20% of other dimensions. And TCM CPGs presented more strong recommendations (for or against) and inappropriate discordant recommendations than GRADE CPGs. GRADE CPGs were more comprehensive considered about the factors affecting the recommendations, and considered more than 70% of all factors in the evidence to recommendation.

CONCLUSIONS

The TCM CPGs lack a comprehensive consideration of multiple influencing determinants from evidence to recommendations. In the future, the correct application of the GRADE approaches should be emphasized.

Acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation training for postpartum stress urinary incontinence: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation training in the treatment of postpartum stress urinary incontinence, and to promote the further promotion and application of acupuncture in the field of rehabilitation.

Methods and analysis

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation in the treatment of postpartum stress urinary incontinence will be searched in PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang (WF), and VIP databases. The clinical trial Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese clinical trial Registry) will also be searched. The search period is limited to July 1, 2023, and the language limit of this systematic review is Chinese and English. The primary outcome is clinical effective rate. International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICI-Q-SF), 1-h pad test, pelvic floor muscle potential value, incidence of adverse events are secondary outcomes. A meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.4 statistical software. If feasible, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis will be performed to address potential causes of inconsistency and heterogeneity. The risk of bias will be assessed using the approach recommended by Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, and the quality of evidence will be assessed using GRADE. This Protocol has been developed in accordance with the guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015.

Discussion

Acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation training can effectively promote the rehabilitation of postpartum stress urinary incontinence patients, and provide a reference for the clinical application of integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment in the field of rehabilitation.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42023455801.

Factors influencing the quality of acupuncture clinical trials: a qualitative interview of stakeholders

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influencing factors on the quality of acupuncture clinical trials from the stakeholders, and to provide references for improving the quality of acupuncture clinical trials.

METHODS

A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews was performed. Experts, acupuncturists, editors, and patients were interviewed. The interview results were thematically analyzed from transcribed audio recordings.

RESULTS

A total of 38 stakeholders were interviewed, including 12 experts, 14 acupuncturists, 2 editors, and 10 patients. There were 25 tree nodes and 106 sub-nodes, with 1141 reference points. The key factors influencing the quality of acupuncture clinical trials could be divided into five core theme frameworks: a) trial design, b) trial conduction, c) research results reporting and publication, d) research evidence dissemination, and e) research evidence transformation and application.

CONCLUSIONS

The results reveal that to improve the quality of acupuncture trials, it should consider each step of trial design, trial conduction, research results reporting and publication, research evidence dissemination, and research evidence transformation and application. A guideline for quality control of the whole process of acupuncture clinical trials is needed.

Development of clinical practice guidelines for Korean medicine: Towards evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine

Background

Since evidence-based medicine has been pursued in complementary and alternative medicine, the clinical practice guideline (CPG) has become a key factor in providing standardized and validated practices in Korean Medicine (KM). We aimed to review the current status and characteristics of the development, dissemination, and implementation of KM-CPGs.

Methods

We searched KM-CPGs and relevant publication via web-based databases. We organized the searching results focused on the year of publications and the development programs to show which and how KM-CPGs have been development. We also reviewed the manuals for KM-CPG development to introduce concise characteristics of the KM-CPGs published in Korea.

Results

The KM-CPGs have been developed according to manuals and standard templates for developing evidence-based KM-CPGs. First, CPG developers reviews the previously published CPGs for a clinical condition of interest and plans the CPG development. After finalizing the key clinical questions, the evidence is searched, selected, appraised, and analyzed following the internationally standardized methods. The quality of the KM-CPGs is controlled by a tri-step appraisal process. Second, the CPGs were submitted for the appraisal of the KM-CPG Review and Evaluation Committee. The committee evaluates the CPGs according to the AGREE II tool. Finally, the Steering Committee of the KoMIT project reviews the entire process of developing the CPGs and confirms it for public disclosure and dissemination.

Conclusion

Evidence-based KM from research to practice can be achieved with the attention and effort of multidisciplinary entities such as clinicians, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers for the CPGs.

Acupuncture Therapy on Dementia: Explained with an Integrated Analysis on Therapeutic Targets and Associated Mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Dementia, mainly Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), remains a global health challenge. Previous studies have demonstrated the benefits of acupuncture therapy (AT) in improving dementia. Nevertheless, the therapeutic targets and integrated biological mechanisms involved remain ambiguous.

OBJECTIVE

To identify therapeutic targets and biological mechanisms of AT in treating dementia by integrated analysis strategy.

METHODS

By the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of AD, VaD, and molecular targets of AT active components, the acupuncture therapeutic targets associated with the biological response to AD and VaD were extracted. Therapeutic targets-based functional enrichment analysis was conducted, and multiple networks were constructed. AT-therapeutic crucial targets were captured by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The interactions between crucial targets with AT active components were verified by molecular docking.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that 132 and 76 acupuncture therapeutic targets were associated with AD and VaD. AT-therapeutic crucial targets including 58 for AD and 24 for VaD were captured by WGCNA, with 11 in shared, including NMU, GRP, TAC1, ADRA1D, and SST. In addition, 35 and 14 signaling pathways were significantly enriched by functional enrichment analysis, with 6 mutual pathways including neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, GABAergic synapse, calcium signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, and inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels.

CONCLUSION

The improvement of AD and VaD by AT was associated with modulation of synaptic function, immunity, inflammation, and apoptosis. Our study clarified the therapeutic targets of AT on dementia, providing valuable clues for complementing and combining pharmacotherapy.

Doctors' and Nurses' Attitudes of Acupuncture and Acupressure use in Perioperative Care: An Australian National Survey

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture and acupressure are not being systematically used in the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting and pain, despite being included in the guidelines.

AIM

To examine the beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge of Australian nurses/midwives and doctors toward the perioperative use of AA for the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting and pain; to explore the barriers and enablers influencing acupuncture and acupressure integration into hospital setting.

METHODS

A mixed-mode approach was undertaken for data collection. An online approach was used to recruit respondents from Australian College of Perioperative Nurses. Three hospitals from three different Australian states were selected via convenience sampling.

RESULTS

A total of 421 usable surveys were included in data analysis. The respondents comprised 14.3% doctors and 72.9% nurses/midwives. Overall, 69.4% were female, 85% were trained in Australia with 35% and 51.4% having knowledge or personal exposure to AA in general respectively. Over 60% of the respondents agreed AA should be routinely integrated into perioperative care, and over 80% would recommend AA to their patients if it was provided at their hospital, and, 75% would be willing to receive further education. The three main reported barriers included: perceived lack of scientific evidence (80.9%), unavailability of credentialed provider (77.2%) and lack of reimbursement (60.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Positive attitudes are reported by Australian doctors and nurses toward AA. This is despite of low levels of knowledge or personal exposure to AA. Further studies are required to explore the implementation of barriers and address respondent calls for further education.