Core Outcome Measures Research Articles

A Long-Term Retrospective Observational Clinical Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) in the Treatment of Back Pain.

Chronic back pain is a long-lasting disorder that is significantly associated with a reduction in the quality of life. Previously, the efficacy of intradiscal and epidural injections of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) was demonstrated at 6months. The objective of this study was to retrospectively examine the medical records of these patients in order to determine whether the observed improvement at the 6-month follow-up was sustained over time. PRGF efficacy was evaluated using validated questionnaires: Core Outcome Measure Index (COMI) Pain score, COMI Disability score, COMI total score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Furthermore, an evaluation was conducted to determine whether the patients had undergone additional treatments. the results demonstrated that 85.2% of the 27 patients who were enrolled exhibited sustained improvement across all scales over a median follow-up period of 24months. The results of all questionnaires administered at 24months exhibited statistically significant differences when compared to the baseline data (p < 0.01). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the results reported at 6months and those at 24months (p > 0.05). the results of this retrospective study demonstrate that treatment of chronic back pain with PRGF was effective in maintaining pain reduction and improving function for at least 24 months after the end of treatment.

Development of a core patient-reported outcome set for use in HIV care at the individual patient level in Montreal: protocol for a two-phased multimethod project

IntroductionThere is international interest in using patient-reported outcome measures in HIV care to improve the well-being of people with HIV, but the prioritisation of specific outcomes and measures remains unclear....

Developing Core Outcome (Measurement) Sets for Critical Care Research using the modified Delphi method: A Narrative Review

Developing Core Outcome (Measurement) Sets for Critical Care Research using the modified Delphi method: A Narrative Review

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Thai version of the core outcome measures index for the back (COMI-back) in patients with low back pain.

To translate and culturally adapt the Core Outcome Measures Index for the back (COMI-back) into Thai and to evaluate its psychometric properties in Thai-speaking patients with low back pain (LBP). The translation process followed a standardized forward-backward method with two independent translators, followed by synthesis and back-translation. An expert committee reviewed the translations for cultural and conceptual equivalence. Pre-testing was done with Thai patients to refine the questionnaire. The validation study included 131 patients with LBP, who completed the Thai COMI-Back along with other validated questionnaires like the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and EQ-5D-5L. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Construct validity was determined by correlating COMI scores with those of reference scales. The Thai COMI-Back exhibited strong reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values from 0.89 to 0.93 and ICC values over 0.80 for all domains. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations with reference scales, with Spearman's rho values ranging from 0.47 to 0.84. Floor and ceiling effects were acceptable for most items, with notable exceptions for symptom-specific well-being and work disability. The Thai COMI-Back shows strong psychometric properties, making it suitable for clinical and research use in Thailand.

Risk Factors and Prevalence of Sleep Disturbance in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Sleep disturbances, especially those lasting more than one hour, are under-researched in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for such disturbances in DCM patients undergoing decompression surgery and to identify factors contributing to poor postoperative improvement. A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted on consecutive patients diagnosed with DCM who underwent cervical decompression surgery between April 2018 and August 2022. The neck disability index (NDI) sleep component was assessed at baseline and 12 months post-surgery. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for persistent sleep disturbances and poor improvement. Of the 1912 patients included, 54.8% reported sleep disturbances, with 33.0% experiencing disturbances of more than one hour at baseline. Multivariable analysis identified male sex, high BMI, high numerical rating scale (NRS) for arm pain, high NDI, and high Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) Neck as significant risk factors for sleep disturbances. At 12 months, 35.2% of these patients continued to experience significant sleep issues. The presence of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and high baseline NRS for neck pain were significant predictors of poor improvement. The study highlights that OPLL and high baseline neck pain are significant risk factors for persistent sleep disturbances post-surgery in DCM patients. Early identification and targeted interventions may be necessary to improve outcomes.

Examining forensic service effectiveness within an NHS Trust: outcomes and considerations for practice

Purpose This study aims to examine whole service effectiveness using a secure version of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS-Secure), further supplemented in some services by the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) and the Patient Reported Experience and Outcome Measure (PREOM). Design/methodology/approach The utility of these measures were considered across the full remit of forensic services within a single NHS Trust. A total of 1,038 service users were included (male, n = 876), with the majority of these presenting with HoNOS-Secure ratings. It was predicted that there would be differences pre and post therapy indicated using these measures, that there would be further differences in relation to period of contact with services, and an association was also noted in relation to aggression within services. Findings Results indicated that HoNOS-Secure scores decreased following treatment and as a function of time spent in secure care. However, no statistically significant improvement or deterioration was observed on patient-reported outcome measures (CORE-OM and PREOM). Practical implications The paper concludes with a comparative examination evaluating potential arguments regarding why low levels of distress are observed within forensic populations and why discrepancies exist between clinician-rated and patient-reported routine outcome measures. Originality/value Research into this area is limited and yet the HoNOS is a widely implemented tool, without consideration of the core value of this measure.

Establishing a peritoneal dialysis technique survival core outcome measure: We look forward to the next possession.

Establishing a peritoneal dialysis technique survival core outcome measure: We look forward to the next possession.

A core outcome set for best care for the dying person: Results of an international Delphi study and consensus meeting

Background: Outcome measurement is essential to progress clinical practice and improve patient care. Aim: To develop a Core Outcome Set for best care for the dying person. Design: We followed the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) Initiative guidelines, which involved identifying potential outcomes via a systematic literature review (n = 619 papers) and from participants in the “iLIVE” project (10 countries: 101 patients, 37 family members, 63 clinicians), followed by a two-round Delphi study, and a consensus meeting. Setting/participants: Clinicians, researchers, family members, and patient representatives from 20 countries participated in the Delphi Rounds 1 (n = 462) and 2 (n = 355). Thirty-two participants attended the consensus meeting. Results: From the systematic review and the cohort study we identified 256 and 238 outcomes respectively, from which we extracted a 52-outcome list covering areas related to the patients’ physical, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions, family support, place of care and care delivery, relational aspects of care, and general concepts. A preliminary 13-outcome list reached consensus during the Delphi. At the consensus meeting, a 14-item Core Outcome Set was ratified by the participants. Conclusions: This study involved a large and diverse sample of key stakeholders in defining the core outcome set for best care for the dying person, focusing on the last days of life. By actively integrating the perspectives of family carers and patient representatives from various cultural backgrounds this Core Outcome Set enriches our understanding of essential elements of care for the dying and provides a solid foundation for advancing quality of end-of-life care.

Cross-cultural adaptation, validation, and establishment of the minimal clinicallyimportant change score of the European Portuguese Core Outcome Measures Index in patients with cervical degenerative spine disease.

We aimed to validate and cross-culturally adapt the Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) neck for use in Portuguese patients with cervical spine degenerative disease and define the minimal clinically important change score (MCIC) for this questionnaire and population. The COMI translation and cross-cultural adaptation was done following published guidelines. Patients awaiting surgery in a neurosurgical centre completed the COMI, Neck Disability Index (NDI) and EQ-5D questionnaires, a pain visual analog scale (VAS) twice within a 5-to-15-day period, and a Global Treatment Outcome (GTO) question evaluating whether a clinical status change had occurred during that period. The MCIC was obtained through an anchor method by analysis of changes in pre- to postoperative total COMI scores and GTO dichotomized answers. The COMI first assessment was completed by 101 patients and 72 patients completed both assessments. The questionnaire showed good construct validity (n = 72 patients) as predefined hypotheses were confirmed: scores on each COMI domain correlated with a Spearman ρ > 0.4 with scores for the corresponding domain on other questionnaires and COMI total score displayed good correlation with total NDI score (ρ = 0.67) and EQ-5D total score (ρ = 0.55). Test-retest reliability (n = 72 patients) was confirmed through high intraclass correlation coefficients. The MCIC (n = 76 patients) was calculated as 2 points. The COMI (neck) psychometric qualities were confirmed, such that it can be considered a valid and reliable questionnaire to be applied in the European Portuguese population with surgical cervical spine degenerative disease, with an MCIC of 2 points.

Establishing a peritoneal dialysis technique survival core outcome measure: A standardised outcomes in nephrology-peritoneal dialysis consensus workshop report.

Technique survival, also reported with negative connotations as technique failure or transfer from peritoneal dialysis to haemodialysis, has been identified by patients, caregivers and health professionals as a critically important outcome to be reported in all trials. However, there is wide variation in how peritoneal dialysis technique survival is defined, measured and reported, leading to difficulty in comparing or consolidating results. We conducted an online international consensus workshop to establish a core outcome measure of technique survival. Discussions were analysed thematically. Fifty-five participants including 14 patients and caregivers from 13 countries took part in facilitated breakout discussions using video-conferencing. The following themes were identified: capturing important aspects of the outcome (requiring a core event to define the outcome, distinguishing temporary from permanent events, recognising heterogeneous experiences of transfers), adopting appropriate neutral nomenclature (conveying with clarity, avoiding negative connotations), and ensuring feasibility and applicability (capturing data relevant to clinical and research settings, ease of adoption). The suggested definitions for the core outcome measure were 'the event of a transfer to haemodialysis', or 'discontinuation of peritoneal dialysis'. Applying the principles described within the workshop, defining the outcome measure as a 'transfer to haemodialysis' was preferable. It is proposed that the core outcome of technique survival is redefined as 'transfer to haemodialysis' and that its components are standardised using simple, neutral terminology Components considered important by stakeholders included recording the reasons for transfer from peritoneal dialysis, and focussing on permanent events whilst ensuring the outcome remains easy to implement.

Patient-centred composite scores as tools for assesment of response to biological therapy for paediatric and adult severe asthma.

We have previously developed Core Outcome Measures sets for Severe Asthma (COMSA) by multi-stakeholder consensus. There are no patient-centred tools to quantify response to biologics for severe asthma. We aimed to develop paediatric and adult CompOsite iNdexes For Response in asthMa (CONFiRM) incorporating clinical parameters and patient-reported quality of life (QoL). International expert healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients with severe asthma were invited to: 1) develop consensus levels of clinically relevant changes for each outcome measure within COMSA; 2) use multicriteria decision analysis to develop the CONFiRM scores and 3) assess their internal validity. A separate group of HCPs evaluated CONFiRM's external validity. Five levels of change for each COMSA outcome were agreed. Severe exacerbations and maintenance oral corticosteroids use were rated as most important in determining both paediatric and adult CONFiRM scores. There was strong agreement between HCPs and patients, although patients assigned greater importance to QoL. The CONFiRM score quantified response to a biological from -31 (deterioration) to 69 (best possible response). Paediatric and adult CONFiRMs had good discriminative ability for a sufficient (AUC≥0.92) and a substantial (AUC≥0.95) response to biologics. Both CONFiRMs demonstrated excellent external validity (Spearman correlation coefficients 0.9 and 0.8 for paediatric and adult respectively (p<0.0001)). We have developed novel patient-centred paediatric and adult CONFiRMs which include QoL measures. CONFiRMs should allow a more holistic understanding of response for the patient and a standardised assessment of the effectiveness of biologics between studies. Further research is needed to prospectively validate CONFiRM scores.

Do Therapists Know When Their Clients Deteriorate? An Investigation of Therapists' Ability to Estimate and Predict Client Change During and After Psychotherapy

ABSTRACTIn routine outcome monitoring, psychotherapists receive feedback from their clients about their self‐reported progress during therapy. This practice is based on research indicating that therapists overestimate their effectiveness and cannot detect and predict negative client change. However, this assumption is based on only a few studies. This study aimed to investigate whether trainee therapists could estimate client deterioration after each session and after therapy and whether they, from session to session, could predict client post‐therapy outcomes. Fifty‐three postgraduate trainee therapists at a university clinic treated 105 clients, with an average of 13.1 sessions. A questionnaire was developed to measure the therapists' estimation of client change at each session and their session‐by‐session prediction of client post‐therapy outcomes. The 10‐item version of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure (CORE‐OM) was used to measure clients' self‐reported change at each session. The data included 96 (91.5%) therapist estimations of client post‐therapy outcomes, 1015 (87.8%) estimations of client change from the second to the penultimate session, and 1140 predictions of post‐therapy outcomes. The study found that at post‐therapy, the therapists were only able to identify one out of eight clients who showed deterioration on the CORE‐10. Additionally, during therapy, they could accurately estimate only six out of 83 sessions in which clients had experienced deterioration on the CORE‐10, and they failed to predict any of the eight clients who ended therapy with deterioration. In conclusion, therapists cannot rely on their clinical judgement alone to assess client progress and outcomes and will depend on routine outcome monitoring to detect client deterioration.

Developing a Core Outcome Set for Netherton Syndrome: An International Multi-Stakeholder e-Delphi Consensus Study

Introduction: Netherton syndrome (NS; OMIM#256500) is a rare and severe disorder of epidermal maturation and keratinization caused by pathogenic variants in the serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 5 (SPINK5), leading to severe skin barrier impairment. Although effective treatment is crucial for NS patients, there is a lack of knowledge on what the best treatment options are for these patients. Large heterogeneity in reported outcomes and measurement instruments hinders accurate comparison of treatment results across studies and the development of a treatment guideline. Therefore, we aimed to develop a core outcome set (COS) for NS that can be used in clinical care and research. Methods: This study was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) initiative. After identification of outcomes through a literature search and classification based on the International Classification of Functioning and taxonomies published by the COMET initiative, discussion groups were organized at the 2nd International Netherton Congress 2022 to finalize the provisional outcome list. Through a 2-round e-Delphi, 41 stakeholders (patients and family members, professionals, and representatives of industry) from 14 countries rated the importance of the outcomes using a 9-point Likert scale. An online consensus meeting attended by 14 stakeholders finalized the COS. Results: The COS for NS comprised 21 outcomes in 10 domains. These included four “skin” outcomes, two “sensation” outcomes, two “side-effects of treatment” outcomes, one “vitality” outcome, one “emotional functioning” outcome, two “physical development” outcomes, two “nutrition” outcomes, two “infections” outcomes, two “allergies” outcomes, and three “assessment results” outcomes. Conclusion: In this study, consensus was reached on 21 outcomes to be included in the COS for NS. The selection of outcomes in the COS underlines that NS not only affects the skin but is a disease requiring a broad multidisciplinary approach in clinical care and research. International implementation of this COS will lead to more uniform reporting, thereby enabling comparison of study results, which may facilitate future treatment guideline development. The next step is to further conceptually define the outcomes and reach consensus on how to measure these.

Validating the SONG-PKD Pain Instrument, a Core Outcome Measure for Pain in ADPKD

IntroductionPain is a critically important outcome in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) but is infrequently and inconsistently reported in clinical trials. This study aimed to validate the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-PKD (SONG-PKD) Pain measure, which includes three items related to pain (frequency, severity, and impact on life participation) measured on a 5-point Likert scale, in adults with ADPKD. Methods316 adults with ADPKD from 21 countries participated online. The median (IQR) age of participants was 56 (44-66) years, 219 (69%) were female and 222 (70%) had a university degree or higher. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, brief medical history and four pain measures at baseline. The pain measures were re-administered 2 days later. Internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach’s alpha. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and convergent validity was assessed using Spearman’s rho. Known groups comparisons for patients with or without a history of kidney complications were performed using a Mann-Whitney rank sum test. ResultsThe SONG-PKD Pain measure demonstrated high internal consistency (0.94, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.93 to 0.95) and test-retest reliability (0.92, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.94). There was high convergence of SONG-PKD Pain with the brief pain inventory short form (BPI-SF; 0.84, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.87) and a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0.84, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.87). There was a significant difference in the median scores of patients with and without a history of complications (4.0 vs 0.0, P<0.001). ConclusionSONG-PKD Pain instrument is a brief and simple measure that has demonstrated strong psychometric properties.

CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE VERSION OF THE CORE OUTCOME MEASURES INDEX FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW BACK PAIN IN HONG KONG

Purpose: The Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) is a multidimensional tool designed to assess the changes in health status of individuals with low back pain (LBP) over time as reported by them. It has been validated and translated into several languages. The objective of this study was to translate COMI into traditional Chinese and test its reliability and validity among the Cantonese-speaking people with LBP in Hong Kong. Methods: The COMI was translated into traditional Chinese following standard procedures and avoiding region-specific terminology. A total of 120 Cantonese-speaking individuals with LBP from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University were recruited. Participants completed a baseline translated COMI questionnaire online. After two–three days, a second set of online questionnaires, including the translated COMI, the traditional Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the EuroQol Five-Dimensional Five-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), were administered to assess the reliability and validity of the translated COMI. Results: The standard Chinese version of COMI was successfully back-translated. There were low floor and ceiling effects, except for symptom-based well-being (floor effect) and disability (ceiling effect). In two rounds of surveys, the Cronbach’s alpha values were 0.79 and 0.80, respectively, indicating sufficient internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(2,1)] for the overall score of the COMI was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86–0.94), and for each item, it ranged from 0.7 to 0.88, demonstrating good test–retest reliability. The HK-COMI was confirmed to be a valid measure. Spearman’s rho correlation tests showed a high correlation with ODI ([Formula: see text]) and EQ-5D-5L ([Formula: see text]), and a moderate correlation with RMDQ ([Formula: see text]). Conclusion: The traditional Chinese version of COMI is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the effectiveness of treatment for LBP among the Cantonese-speaking people in Hong Kong. Future studies should focus on assessing the sensitivity of this measure among the people with LBP in Hong Kong.

Reported outcomes in studies of intermittent claudication - first step toward a core outcome set: systematic review.

This review aimed to compile an exhaustive list of all outcome measures and identify different characteristics of the outcomes reported in studies of intermittent claudication as the first step in developing a core outcome set for intermittent claudication. Medline and Embase were searched for all studies including individuals with intermittent claudication and reporting ≥1 outcome from January 2015 to August 2024. Abstract, full text screening and data extraction were performed by two investigators independently. All reported outcome measures were extracted verbatim and categorized by Dodd's domains (Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials registration: COMIC Study, 1590; https://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/1590). 4985 studies were screened and 408 were included. A total of 541 unique outcomes across 25 Dodd's domains were identified. Ankle-brachial pressure index was the most frequently reported outcome. Among the 541 unique outcomes, 386 outcomes were only reported once. Only 38.9% of the studies exclusively included patients with intermittent claudication. Patient-reported outcomes were reported in 36.2% of studies. There were wide variations in the definition of commonly used outcome measures (for example, major adverse limb event and primary patency) across different studies. There is substantial heterogeneity in reported outcomes in studies of intermittent claudication. Most reported outcomes are clinical/physiology oriented rather than patient centred. Development of a core outcome set for intermittent claudication is vital to improve and standardize reporting in future research.

Methodological considerations in calculating the minimal clinically important change score for the core outcome measures index (COMI): insights from a large single-centre spine surgery registry.

The Minimal Clinically Important Change (MCIC) is used in conjunction with Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) to determine the clinical relevance of changes in health status. MCIC measures a change within the same person or group over time. This study aims to evaluate the variability in computing MCIC for the Core Outcome Measure Index (COMI) using different methods. Data from a spine centre in Switzerland were used to evaluate variations in MCIC for the COMI score. Distribution-based and anchor-based methods (predictive and nonpredictive) were applied. Bayesian bootstrap estimated confidence intervals. From 27,003 cases, 9821 met the inclusion criteria. Distribution-based methods yielded MCIC values from 0.4 to 1.4. Anchor-based methods showed more variability, with MCIC values from 1.5 to 4.9. Predictive anchor-based methods also provided variable MCIC values for improvement (0.3-2.4), with high sensitivity and specificity. MCIC calculation methods produce varying values, emphasizing careful method selection. Distribution-based methods likely measure minimal detectable change, while non-predictive anchor-based methods can yield high MCIC values due to group averaging. Predictive anchor-based methods offer more stable and clinically relevant MCIC values for improvement but are affected by prevalence and reliability corrections.

A study of impulsivity as a predictor of problematic internet use in university students with disabilities.

The role played by impulsivity in problematic internet use (PIU) is the object of much debate among researchers. Some studies emphasize its importance, while others suggest mental distress or personality traits may be more crucial. More research into the issue is clearly needed-especially in at-risk populations like people with disabilities. The objectives of this study were therefore to investigate the relationship between PIU and impulsivity among university students with disabilities, and to develop a specific predictive model for this group that would include psychological and life-functioning variables. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 240 Spanish university students with disabilities from seven universities. Several instruments were used for data collection: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), and NEO-FFI-R. The results indicated that impulsivity is significantly correlated with PIU, as indeed it also is with other factors like conscientiousness and social functioning problems. The study's regression model explained nearly 50% of PIU variance, with impulsivity, personality traits, wellness and health indicators, and social media usage as predictive variables. This suggests that interventions should consider these psychological and lifestyle variables as a means of mitigating PIU risks in students with disabilities. The findings identify a need for further longitudinal studies to understand the causality and develop targeted prevention strategies.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Czech version of the core outcome measures index for low back and neck pain.

The Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) is a short, multidimensional instrument translated into several languages that covers five domains recommended in the assessment of outcome in patients with low-back and neck pain. The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the COMI from English to Czech language and to test the face and construct validity and reproducibility of its results in patients with low-back and neck pain. Participants (n = 125) were included from primary and secondary care. The participants reported moderate pain and disability levels. All participants filled in the COMI forms before and after surgery. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon paired test, Crombach's alpha, principal component analysis and information entropy calculation were used. The instrument was successfully forward and back-translated. It can be seen that the questionnaire applied as part of our intervention study produces answers with a sufficient degree of variability and with a satisfactory degree of representation of extreme values. It can be also seen that the questionnaire can diagnose an objectively occurring change associated with the surgeon within the intervention procedure. Our other findings support the idea of ​​a possible reduction in the number of questions that measure the same latent variable. Our investigations also showed that it is possible to reduce the range of the point scale of the perception of pain to 5 degrees of intensity and thus unify the range with the other questions. The Czech COMI shows acceptable properties and is thus suitable to use as a short instrument for measuring important domains in patients with low-back and neck pain.

Acupuncture’s Emergence as A Promising Non-Pharmacological Therapy for Appetite Management in Cancer Chemotherapy

Objective The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the impact of acupuncture intervention and explore the intricacies of acupoint selection as a therapeutic strategy for chemotherapy-induced Anorexia (CIA). Method Eight electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies on the use of acupuncture for the treatment of CIA to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis. Following this, the Apriori algorithm, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis were performed to identify correlations between the selection of acupoints. Results Acupuncture significantly reduced the incidence of anorexia (RR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.65, 0.90; I 2=63%; p = 0.001; n = 503) and anorexia score (SMD=-0.33, 95%CI: −0.53, −0.14; I 2=22%; p = 0.0008; n = 419), as well as preserved body mass (MD = 2.70, 95%CI: 1.08, 4.32; I 2=0%; p = 0.001; n = 187) and enhanced physical strength (MD = 4.23, 95%CI: 1.90, 6.55; I 2=58%; p = 0.0004; n = 377). Moreover, subgroup analysis highlighted its efficacy in managing anorexia associated with non-gastrointestinal tumors and mitigating the severity of cisplatin-induced anorexia. Meanwhile, Zusanli (ST36), Neiguan (PC6), Tianshu (ST25), Zhongwan (RN12), and Qihai (RN6) were identified as crucial acupoints in CIA management. Conclusion Acupuncture holds promise as a potential non-pharmacological approach for managing anorexia during cancer chemotherapy. To provide robust evidence of its effectiveness, well-designed Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) with larger participant cohorts, and consistent core outcome measures are essential.