Acupuncture for the treatment of hiccups following stroke: a protocol for a systematic review

Abstract

Although the positive effects of acupuncture in the treatment of hiccups following a stroke may be seen in actual clinical practice, no systematic reviews exist that describe the use of acupuncture to treat hiccups after stroke. The aim of this study is to analyse the available literature and trial data to determine the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of hiccups following stroke. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTERAL, CINAHL, and four Chinese medical databases up to June 1, 2015. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) will be included if acupuncture is assessed as the sole treatment or as an adjunct treatment for alleviating hiccups after stroke. The primary outcome of our analysis is cessation of hiccups within a specified time period following intervention; secondary outcome will include adverse events. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment will be conducted by two reviewers. Any disagreement will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. The Cochrane risk-of-bias criteria will be used to assess the methodological quality of the trials. The systematic review will be published through a peer-reviewed journal or presented at a relevant conference. We believe that the findings of our review will inform and guide healthcare practice and policy. Trial registration number: PROSPERO CRD42014015481.