Network meta-analysis for comparative effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A protocol and Bayesian network meta-analysis

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) reduces the quality-of-life, affects recovery, and increases the risk of chemotherapeutic failure. Acupuncture may be effective in treating CIPN. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different types of acupuncture through a systematic review and network meta-analysis. The objective of this study is to indicate the relative efficacy and safety among various types of acupuncture for CIPN via a network meta-analysis (NMA) and systematic review.Methods: Six electronic databases, namely Excerpta Medica Database [Embase], PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Med Online, will be searched for publications from 2010 to 2022. All relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting the eligibility criteria will be included. The primary outcome is the brief pain inventory score, including brief pain inventory-short form, and autonomic nerve symptoms. Secondary outcomes include the quality-of-life assessment of anxiety, depression, and sleep of people with CIPN and adverse events. Reviewers will conduct processes for study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. Stata version 15.0 will be used to perform pairwise and Bayesian network NMA. Each included study will be assessed for bias using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. A funnel plot will show publication bias.Discussion: We will assess the benefits and drawbacks of various acupuncture-related therapies, rank the efficacy of various acupuncture-related therapies for treating CIPN, and describe the best approaches or combinations of acupuncture interventions based on available data.Conclusion: This study will contribute to data on the safety and efficacy of acupuncture-related therapies for treating CIPN and will help clinicians better select acupuncture treatment types to deal with the different clinical problems of CIPN.Ethics and dissemination: There is no need for ethics approval for this systematic review and meta-analysis. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020198388