The effectiveness and safety of acupoint herbal patching for allergic rhinitis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa that is characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and rhinorrhoea. In recent years, acupoint herbal patching (AHP) therapy has gained a growing interest as a potential management option for AR. This systematic review and meta-analysis will evaluate the clinical research evidence on the effectiveness and safety of AHP as a treatment option for AR outside of the Sanfu or Sanjiu days (summer or winter solstice). The results of this review will provide up-to-date evidence-based guidance for healthcare providers and individuals seeking alternative treatments for AR. Methods A comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), CQVIP, Sino-Med, and Wanfang Databases) will be conducted from their inception to June 2023. The inclusion criteria will be limited to randomized controlled trials that evaluate the effectiveness or efficacy of non-Sanfu or non-Sanjiu AHP for AR. The primary outcome measure will be the total nasal symptom score. The methodological quality of included studies will be assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2), and meta-analyses will be performed using RevMan (V.5.3) statistical software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to determine the certainty of evidence. Discussion This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and safety of non-Sanfu or non-Sanjiu AHP as a treatment option for AR. The study aims to produce a high-quality review by adhering to PRISMA-P guidelines and using clinical guideline recommended outcome measures. The results of this review may offer additional treatment options for AR patients who seek complementary and alternative therapies, and hold significant implications for future research in this field. Overall, this study has the potential to inform clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42022181322.