Table 1 Acupuncture treatment protocol based on the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) [29]
1. Acupuncture rationale | 1a) Acupuncture technique | Traditional Korean medicine theory |
1b) Reasoning for treatment provided (based on historical context, literature sources, and/or consensus methods), with where appropriate | Textbook of acupuncture and moxibustion and related articles | |
1c) Extent of treatment variations | EX-B2 of lesion or upper and lower levels | |
2. Details of needling | 2a) Number of needle insertions per subject per session | Acupuncture points: 15 |
2b) Names of points used | Local acupuncture points: GV3, EX-B5/bilateral BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26 (total 11 points) Distal acupuncture points: bilateral BL40, BL60 (total 4 points) | |
2c) Depth of insertion based on a specified unit of measurement | 20–40 mm | |
2d) Response sought | De-qi (penetrating, sharp, aching and painful sensations) | |
2e) Needle stimulation | Rotation of the acupuncture needle 3–5 times | |
2f) Needle retention time | 20 min | |
2 g) Needle type | Sterilized stainless steel needle with 0.25 mm width and 40 mm length (DB108C; Dongbang Medical Co., Boryung-si, South Korea) | |
3. Treatment regimen | 3a) Number of treatment sessions | 12 sessions |
3b) Frequency and duration of treatment sessions | Twice a week for six weeks (Total 12 times) | |
4. Other components of treatment | 4a) Details of other interventions used for the treatment group | Lifestyle advice about chronic low back pain |
4b) Setting and context of treatment, including instructions to practitioners and information and explanations for patients | Practitioners are instructed to prevent talking with participants | |
5. Practitioner background | 5) Description of participating acupuncturists | Korean medical doctors who are specialist in acupuncture and moxibustion at least three years of experience, or under supervision by a specialist |
6. Control interventions | 6a) Rationale for the control or comparator in the context of the research question with sources that justify this choice | Textbook of acupuncture and moxibustion and related articles |
6b) Precise description of the control or comparator | Same acupuncture treatment in two groups: not applicable | |
If sham acupuncture or any other type of acupuncture-like control is used, provide details as for items 1–3. | Same acupuncture treatment in two groups |