Effect of acupoint therapies on prostatitis: A systematic review protocol

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Integrative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Prostatitis is a prevalent urinary infectious disease.
• Acupoint therapies, including acupuncture and massage, show promise for prostatitis treatment.
• The clinical effectiveness of acupoint therapies for prostatitis requires thorough evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the efficacy and safety of various acupoint-based therapies for prostatitis.
• To provide an evidence-based assessment of acupoint therapies for prostatitis.
• To identify effective acupoint treatments and elucidate their mechanisms of action.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE) was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to December 2019.
• Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using Cochrane criteria.
• Risk of bias assessment and data synthesis were conducted using RevMan 5.3 software.

Main Results:

• The review will analyze data on effective rates, quality of life, cure rates, recurrence rates, and complication rates.
• Evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of acupoint therapies for prostatitis will be provided.
• The study aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the outcomes associated with acupoint interventions.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review will determine the efficacy and safety of different acupoint therapies for prostatitis.
• Recommendations will be made regarding which acupoint therapies may be considered effective treatments.
• The review will explore the potential mechanisms through which acupoint therapies exert their effects.