The maintenance effect of acupuncture on the side effects of breast cancer endocrine therapy A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

Background: Breast cancer is common among women throughout the world and endocrine therapy is an established part of its treatment. But, unfortunately, this has also resulted in intolerable side effects affecting the quality of life. Acupuncture has been widely used to treat endocrine-related side effects in patients with breast cancer, but how long its effect can be maintained has not been published. The systematic review is designed to evaluate the maintenance efficacy of acupuncture for related side effects after breast cancer endocrine therapy. Methods and analysis: We will search for the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data, Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and China Biology Medicine (CBM) from inception to May 2020. Two reviewers will search these databases, collect all articles, and assess the quality of studies separately, and there will be no limitations on language. The primary outcomes will be assessed using acupuncture for endocrine-related hot flashes and joint pain duration (1 month, 3 months, 6 months). Measurement tools include the Kupperman index, Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Brief Pain Inventory-Short (BPI-SF). We will use RevMan V.5.3 for meta-analysis and employ the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation System to assess the quality of evidence. Results: This systematic review will evaluate the maintenance efficacy of acupuncture on the side effects of breast cancer endocrine therapy. Conclusion: This study will provide high-quality current evidence of how long its effect can be maintained after acupuncture for related side effects after breast cancer endocrine therapy. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical committee approval is not required for this systematic review as patient data will not be collected. This study will help to inform doctors and researchers on the duration of acupuncture treatment for endocrine-related hot flashes and joint pain. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be disseminated in relevant conferences.