Acupuncture for post-stroke insomnia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Post-stroke insomnia (PSI) is a common and debilitating complication following a stroke.
• Acupuncture is a frequently utilized therapy for PSI due to its minimal side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for post-stroke insomnia.
• To provide evidence-based information for clinicians and patients regarding acupuncture's role in managing PSI.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive electronic searches of multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, etc.) and manual reference retrieval.
• Inclusion of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing acupuncture for PSI, irrespective of blinding or allocation concealment.
• Data synthesis using RevMan 5.3 software and quality appraisal via GRADE methodology.

Main Results:

• The study is designed to synthesize data from included RCTs.
• Results will detail the efficacy of acupuncture based on standardized measures and patient-reported outcomes.
• Safety data, including adverse events, will be systematically collected and analyzed.

Conclusions:

• This review will offer high-quality evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for PSI.
• Findings will inform clinical practice and future research directions in managing sleep disturbances after stroke.