Electroacupuncture with or without combined warm needling for tinnitus: Study protocol for a randomized,...

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Neurology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Tinnitus is a prevalent auditory condition with significant impact.
• Acupuncture and moxibustion are traditional Chinese therapies for tinnitus, but require rigorous evidence.
• High-quality studies are needed to validate their efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture alone versus combined with warm needling for tinnitus.
• To evaluate the impact of these treatments on tinnitus loudness and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, multicenter, 3-arm, randomized, waitlist-controlled trial involving 90 patients.
• Patients assigned to electroacupuncture, electroacupuncture with warm needling, or a waitlist control group.
• Intervention for 5 weeks, with assessments at baseline, week 5, and week 10; primary outcome is change in visual analog scale for tinnitus loudness.

Main Results:

• Primary outcome: change in visual analog scale score for tinnitus loudness.
• Secondary outcome: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory for discomfort assessment.
• Safety assessment through observation and recording of adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture and moxibustion show potential as tinnitus treatment alternatives.
• This study will provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture with or without warm needling for tinnitus management.