Acupuncture Case Registry Study: Rationale, Implementations, and Achievements.

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Clinical Research Methodology

Background:

• Acupuncture case registry studies are crucial for gathering real-world data on therapy efficacy and safety.
• Existing research often relies on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), necessitating complementary real-world evidence.
• The International Acupuncture Case Registry was established in 2017 to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy.
• To identify factors influencing acupuncture's effectiveness.
• To provide a framework and guidance for future acupuncture registry studies.

Main Methods:

• Data collection through the International Acupuncture Case Registry system since 2017.
• Inclusion of 16 ongoing projects, covering two acupuncture specialty therapies and 15 diseases.
• Analysis of comprehensive data from 3404 patients, including diagnosis, treatment, and outcome evaluation.

Main Results:

• Accumulated extensive data from 3404 patients on acupuncture diagnosis, treatment, and efficacy.
• Initiated 16 projects focusing on specific acupuncture therapies and diseases.
• Established a foundation for real-world evidence generation in acupuncture.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture case registry studies are valuable for complementing RCTs with real-world evidence.
• The established registry provides a robust platform for collecting and analyzing acupuncture data.
• This approach offers critical insights into acupuncture's clinical utility and informs future research directions.