Standardizing and optimizing acupuncture treatment for irritable bowel syndrome: A Delphi expert consensus study

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Acupuncture is a common treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Existing acupuncture strategies for IBS lack standardization.
• There is a need for optimized acupuncture protocols for IBS management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop evidence-based recommendations for acupuncture in IBS.
• To establish an optimized acupuncture protocol for IBS practice.
• To provide guidance for acupuncturists and patients regarding IBS treatment.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi survey involving 74 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncturists and 30 experts was conducted.
• Systematic reviews of acupuncture for IBS were screened across three databases.
• Consensus was defined as over 80% agreement among experts on specific items.

Main Results:

• A total of 19 items reached consensus after two rounds of Delphi voting.
• Consensus covered clinical outcomes (5 items), therapeutic principles and parameters (13 items), and adverse events (1 item).
• Thorough consensus was achieved on 5 items, with significant agreement on 14 others.

Conclusions:

• Expert consensus provides valuable guidance for standardized acupuncture treatment in IBS.
• The findings address the lack of homogeneity in published IBS acupuncture literature.
• This consensus highlights areas for future clinical research in acupuncture for IBS.