Overview of the acupuncture parts in the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews and the Cochrane Collaboration

The clinical efficacy of acupuncture is a topic that has received worldwide attention. In recent years, the rise of evidence-based medicine has led to calls for the clinical curative effects of acupuncture to be tested through objective, standardized, systematic evaluation. The results of systematic reviews for clinical trials on the efficacy of acupuncture directly affect the development of acupuncture medicine. Because of its rigorous methods and its capability to provide the very latest results, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) is recognized worldwide as one of the most reliable sources for scientific evidence. Assess the current system evaluation related to acupuncture in CDSR and the Cochrane Collaboration. Based on the protocols described in the Cochrane library review and the Cochrane Collaboration, and considering the registered titles in the data base, the following key terms were selected: acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, electroacupuncture, needle and acupressure. The 275 articles were retrieved. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 139 articles were eventually chosen for inclusion. We found a growing number of acupuncture related CDSR annual reviews and protocols on the overall Before 2014. The published acupuncture related reviews, protocols and registered titles concerning the subject involve 34 Cochrane Review Groups. Through analyzing the 84 reviews related to acupuncture, we concluded that these studies show a rather low rate of efficacy overall for acupuncture. Of the 84, 19(22.62%) concluded that there is evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture, 2(2.38%) showed acupuncture treatment were not more effective than controls and the remaining 63 (75.00%) showed that the efficacy of acupuncture were uncertain. By analyzing and summarizing the acupuncture reviews published in the CDSR before 2014, we found that current research shows acupuncture treatment is most effective for treating pain and related symptoms (57.89%). However, studies showing lack of efficacy or uncertain results far outweighed the studies with positive results. We discuss the possible reasons for this and beleive it is related to the overall quality of research, poorly designed sham acupuncture, lack of standard procedures for locating points and needling, and lack of attention to individual differences.