[Transformation of the domestic standard (Guideline for Clinical Practice of Acupuncture-Moxibustion: Migraine) to international standard: in the perspective of the differences in clinical questions]

Abstract

Through analyzing the differences in the clinical questions of Guideline for Clinical Practice of Acupuncture- Moxibustion: Migraine (Guideline) between the domestic standard and international standard (under development), the specific issues are determined in the transformation from domestic standard to international one. Taking acupuncture practitioners as investigation object, by means of the survey, the basic information and clinical questions were investigated. The survey results show that the following aspects should be supplemented in terms of the international requirements during the development of this international Guideline: suitable patient population, applicable types of disease, the optimal intervention time of acupuncture for migraine, common methods in treatment as well as the other involved health problems. Moreover, it needs to update the key clinical questions, recommended regimens for the newly supplemented types of disease, as well as the more specified assessment on therapeutic effect. The ultimate solution of these questions relies on the quality of clinical evidence.

Keywords: acupuncture and moxibustion; clinical issue; guideline for clinical practice; international standard; migraine.