Item

Detail

1. Acupuncture rationale       
    (Explanations and examples)

1a) Style of acupuncture (e.g. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese, Korean, Western medical, Five Element, ear acupuncture, etc)

1b) Reasoning for treatment provided, based on historical context, literature sources, and/or consensus methods, with references where appropriate

1c) Extent to which treatment was varied

2. Details of needling  
    (Explanations and examples)

2a) Number of needle insertions per subject per session (mean and range where relevant)

2b) Names (or location if no standard name) of points used (uni/bilateral)

2c) Depth of insertion, based on a specified unit of measurement, or on a particular tissue level

2d) Response sought (e.g. de qi or muscle twitch response)

2e) Needle stimulation (e.g. manual, electrical)

2f) Needle retention time

2g) Needle type (diameter, length, and manufacturer or material)

3. Treatment regimen  
    (Explanations and examples)

3a) Number of treatment sessions

3b) Frequency and duration of treatment sessions

4. Other components of treatment  
    (Explanations and examples)

4a) Details of other interventions administered to the acupuncture group (e.g. moxibustion, cupping, herbs, exercises, lifestyle advice)

4b) Setting and context of treatment, including instructions to practitioners, and information and explanations to patients

5. Practitioner background  
    (Explanations and examples)

5) Description of participating acupuncturists (qualification or professional affiliation, years in acupuncture practice, other relevant experience)

6. Control or comparator interventions
    (Explanations and examples)

6a) Rationale for the control or comparator in the context of the research question, with sources that justify this choice

6b) Precise description of the control or comparator. If sham acupuncture or any other type of acupuncture-like control is used, provide details as for Items 1 to 3 above.