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Acupuncture for postherpetic neuralgia: a systematic review protocol
Wang Li1, Weina Peng2, Jing Zhou1
1Department of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
BMJ Open
|November 14, 2014
Summary
This systematic review will evaluate acupuncture's effectiveness and safety for treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). It aims to synthesize current evidence to determine if acupuncture offers a beneficial treatment option for PHN patients.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Neurology
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common complication of herpes zoster.
- Clinical trials suggest acupuncture may alleviate pain and discomfort in PHN patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PHN treatment.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of current research findings.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Extensive electronic database searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, etc.) and hand searching.
- Data extraction and quality assessment by two independent reviewers; meta-analysis using Revman 5.1.
Main Results:
- Outcomes include pain intensity, global impression, quality of life, safety, and costs.
- Results will be presented using risk ratios for dichotomous data and mean differences for continuous data.
Conclusions:
- The review will consolidate evidence on acupuncture's role in PHN management.
- Findings will inform clinical practice and future research directions.
