[Application of mixed methods systematic review in the evidence-based evaluation of acupuncture and moxibustion]

The meta-analysis is generally employed to synthesize data in the conventional systematic review of acupuncture and moxibustion, in which, the quantitative analysis is predominant. Mixed methods systematic reviews of acupuncture (MMSR-A) adopts PICOS and SPIDER to formulate the questions; the research objects are expanded to qualitative and mixed studies. This mixed methods use the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) for the methodology quality evaluation or the quality assessment tool of the Joanna Briggs Institue (JBI), and a variety of mixed analytic methods. MMSR-A is applicable for the comprehensive evaluation of clinical efficacy and social/humanistic effects of acupuncture and moxibustion, for the organic synthesis of evidences from quantitative and qualitative studies of acupuncture and moxibustion, and for the systematic analysis in the multidisciplinary and cross-cultural field of acupuncture and moxibustion.