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Item 1. Acupuncture rationale
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.
Explanations and examples for Item 1
Item 2. Details of needling
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).
Explanations and examples for Item 2
Item 3. Treatment regimen
3a) Number of treatment sessions
3b) Frequency and duration of treatment sessions
Explanations and examples for Item 3
Item 4. Other components of treatment
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
Explanations and examples for Item 4
Item 5. Practitioner background
5) Description of participating acupuncturists (qualification or professional affiliation, years in acupuncture practice, other relevant experience)
Explanations and examples for Item 5
Item 6. Control or comparator interventions
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