Table 1 Details of acupuncture intervention
Item | Detail | Description |
|---|---|---|
Acupuncture rationale | (1a) Style of acupuncture | Korean body acupuncture |
(1b) Reasoning for treatment | We selected the optimal treatment regimen based on university textbooks about the meridian and acupuncture, and a literature review of clinical trials investigating acupuncture therapy for mild cognitive impairment and dementia | |
(1c) Extent to which treatment varies | None | |
Details of needling | (2a) Number of needle insertions per subject per session | 9 |
(2b) Names of points used (unilateral/bilateral) | GV20, EX-HN1, LI4 (bilateral), ST36 (bilateral) | |
(2c) Depth of insertion | 5–10 mm | |
(2d) Response sought | None | |
(2e) Needle stimulation | Manual | |
(2f) Needle retention time | 15 min | |
(2 g) Needle type | 0.30 × 30 mm, sterilized stainless steel needle (Asia-med GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) | |
Treatment regimen | (3a) Number of treatment sessions | 24 sessions |
(3b) Frequency and duration of treatment sessions | 2 sessions/week for 12 weeks | |
Other components of treatment | (4a) Details of other interventions administered to the acupuncture group | None |
(4b) Setting and context of treatment | Hospital outpatient department | |
Practitioner background | (5) Description of participating acupuncturists | Specialist in oriental neuropsychiatry or longer than 1-year career resident under the guidance of an oriental psychiatric specialist |
Control or comparator interventions | (6a) Rationale for the control or comparator in the context of the research question | As placebo control, non-penetrating sham acupuncture needles will be used |
(6b) Precise description of the control or comparator | Non-penetrating acupuncture treatment at the same acupoints using a Streitberger device |