Article type
Abstract
Objective: Utilizing evidence mapping (EM) method to identify, describe, and analyze the existing evidence gap of acupuncture based on network meta-analysis (NMA).
Study design and method: Acupuncture NMAs-related studies were searched from 8 databases from inception to May 2023. The included studies were evaluated for methodological and reporting quality using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Network Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-NMA) tools. Data extraction and coding were conducted using Microsoft Excel 2019, and bubble plots were used to comprehensively present information on the quality of evidence, number of original studies, disease classification, number of acupuncture interventions, and optimal acupuncture techniques.
Results: A total of 146 studies were included. Of these, 139 studies (95.21%) were from four developing Asian countries, with China having the highest number of published studies (88.37%). The methodological quality of the included studies was categorized as high (1.37%), moderate (11.64%), low (8.90%), and very low (78.08%). The median (interquartile range) score of the reporting quality was 26.5 (24.5~28.5). The study involved 13 disease categories, 71 types of diseases, and 19 acupuncture techniques. The main disease categories covered were nervous system diseases (24.66%) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (23.29%). Each study involved 1 to 14 types of acupuncture techniques, with 1 type of acupuncture technique being the most commonly used (21.23%) followed by 2 types of acupuncture techniques (17.81%). The main recommended acupuncture technique is acupuncture therapy (24.66%).
Conclusion: Acupuncture NMA primarily focuses on nervous system disease, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. The recommended optimal acupuncture techniques include acupuncture therapy, as well as multiple acupuncture therapies. While the reporting quality is moderate, the methodological quality is relatively low. Therefore, further high-quality studies are necessary to explore the potential of acupuncture to treat other diseases and improve the quality of acupuncture NMA.
Study design and method: Acupuncture NMAs-related studies were searched from 8 databases from inception to May 2023. The included studies were evaluated for methodological and reporting quality using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Network Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-NMA) tools. Data extraction and coding were conducted using Microsoft Excel 2019, and bubble plots were used to comprehensively present information on the quality of evidence, number of original studies, disease classification, number of acupuncture interventions, and optimal acupuncture techniques.
Results: A total of 146 studies were included. Of these, 139 studies (95.21%) were from four developing Asian countries, with China having the highest number of published studies (88.37%). The methodological quality of the included studies was categorized as high (1.37%), moderate (11.64%), low (8.90%), and very low (78.08%). The median (interquartile range) score of the reporting quality was 26.5 (24.5~28.5). The study involved 13 disease categories, 71 types of diseases, and 19 acupuncture techniques. The main disease categories covered were nervous system diseases (24.66%) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (23.29%). Each study involved 1 to 14 types of acupuncture techniques, with 1 type of acupuncture technique being the most commonly used (21.23%) followed by 2 types of acupuncture techniques (17.81%). The main recommended acupuncture technique is acupuncture therapy (24.66%).
Conclusion: Acupuncture NMA primarily focuses on nervous system disease, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. The recommended optimal acupuncture techniques include acupuncture therapy, as well as multiple acupuncture therapies. While the reporting quality is moderate, the methodological quality is relatively low. Therefore, further high-quality studies are necessary to explore the potential of acupuncture to treat other diseases and improve the quality of acupuncture NMA.