RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Acupuncture for constipation in patients with stroke: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e020400
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020400
VO 8
IS 3
A1 Zhai, Jingbo
A1 Mu, Wei
A1 Si, Jinhua
A1 Li, Yan
A1 Zhao, Chen
A1 Shang, Hongcai
A1 Li, Huanan
A1 Tian, Guihua
YR 2018
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/3/e020400.abstract
AB Introduction Constipation is one of the most common complications in patients with stroke. Acupuncture has gained increased popularity for the management of constipation. However, there is a lack of supportive evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture for poststroke constipation. This systematic review aims to collect and critically appraise all the available evidence about the efficacy and safety of the acupuncture for constipation in poststroke patients.Methods and analysis A comprehensive search of Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, four Chinese databases (National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literatures database (CBM), Wanfang Digital Periodicals (WANFANG) and Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals (VIP) database), one Japanese medical database (National Institute of Informatics, CiNii) and one Korean medical database (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, OASIS) will be conducted to identify randomised controlled trials of acupuncture for constipation in poststroke patients. There is no restriction on language or publication status. The primary outcome measure will be frequency of bowel movement. The risk of bias will be assessed using the approach recommended by Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We will conduct the meta-analysis to synthesise the evidence for each outcome, if possible. The heterogeneity will be statistically assessed using a χ2 test and I2 statistic. This protocol is developed following the guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocols 2015.Ethics and dissemination The ethical approval is not required because no primary data are collected. The findings will be presented at scientific conferences or a peer-reviewed scientific journal.PROSPERO registration number CRD42017076880.