Effect of auriculotherapy on chronic low back pain: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a clinically common and recurrent disease. However, many trials have shown that auriculotherapy (AT) can effectively treat CLBP. There are currently no systematic reviews of this therapy. The plan aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this treatment in patients with CLBP.

Methods: This systematic evaluation will entail an electronic and manual search of all AT for CLBP from inception to January 31, 2020, regardless of the publication status or language. Databases include PubMed, Excerpt Medica Database, Springer, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, the Chinese Medicine Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China Science Journal Database, and the Wanfang Database. Other sources of information, including bibliographies and meeting minutes for identified publications, will also be searched. A manual search for grey literature, including unpublished conference articles will be performed. Additionally, any clinical randomized controlled trials related to AT for CLBP, regardless of the publication status and language limitations, will be included in the study. Study selection, data extraction, and research quality assessments will be conducted independently by 2 researchers. The main result was the use of a visual analog scale, a short pain scale, or other effective scale. Secondary outcomes included effectiveness, Oswestry dysfunction index, self-rating anxiety scale, self-depression rating scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, follow-up relapse rate, and adverse events. The system searches for randomized controlled trials of this therapy for CLBP. Implement the Cochrane RevMan V5.3 bias assessment tool to assess bias risk, data integration risk, meta-analysis risk, and subgroup analysis risk (if conditions are met). Mean difference, standard mean deviation, and binary data will be used to represent continuous results.

Results: This study will provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the available evidence for the treatment of CLBP using this therapy.

Conclusion: This study will provide new evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of AT on CLBP. Because the data is not personalized, no formal ethical approval is required.

Prospero registration number: CRD42020151584.

Figure 1

Flow diagram of studies identified.