Electroacupuncture for primary insomnia: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Sleep Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder affecting a significant portion of the population.
• Electroacupuncture (EA) is being investigated as a potential therapeutic intervention for primary insomnia.
• Limited research and no systematic reviews currently exist on the efficacy of EA for primary insomnia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) as a treatment for primary insomnia.
• To provide a high-quality synthesis of existing evidence on EA for primary insomnia.
• To inform clinical decision-making regarding the use of EA for primary insomnia.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search of 8 electronic databases (4 English, 4 Chinese) will be conducted in January 2018.
• Relevant randomized controlled trials will be identified, and their reference lists will be screened.
• The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will be used for primary outcome assessment, with risk of bias evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook.

Main Results:

• This study will present a comprehensive synthesis of the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of EA for primary insomnia.
• The findings will consolidate data from various randomized controlled trials to assess EA's impact on sleep quality.

Conclusions:

• The systematic review will provide crucial evidence to determine if electroacupuncture is an effective treatment for individuals suffering from primary insomnia.
• This research aims to clarify the therapeutic role of EA in managing primary insomnia.