Research Methodology in Acupuncture for Managing Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background Acupuncture and moxibustion are being explored as complementary therapies with promising potential in managing interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). While some studies indicate possible benefits, their scientific basis and clinical efficacy remain subjects of debate, partly due to methodological flaws in study designs involving acupuncture and related modalities, which warrant further attention and discussion. The main objective is to analyze and evaluate the research methodologies used in existing literature on acupuncture for managing IC/BPS, providing insight into the methodological challenges and opportunities in this field.

Materials and Methods National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Web of Sciences (WOS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cumulated Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Epistemonikos, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were searched from their inception to August 2024. Data were extracted based on the study designs, primary outcome measures, adverse events (AEs), and participants' subjective views.