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Table 2 Acupuncture protocol in accordance with STandards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture, STRICTA[46]

From: Effects of an integrative treatment, therapeutic acupuncture and conventional treatment in alleviating psychological distress in primary care patients - a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Item

Intervention

Details

1

Integrative treatment , IT

Therapeutic acupuncture treatment of sedative and restorative acupuncture points [41] integrated with structured salutogenic [42] dialogue [43, 44].

2

Needling details

Points used; Gv 20, Cv 6, Pc 6, Ht 7, Co 4, Lr 3, Sp 6, St 36 and accipoints. Uni-or bilateral 2–10 needles each time Depths of insertion: 0.5-1.5 cm Responses elicited: de qi Needle stimulation: manual Needle retention time: 20–30 minutes Needle type: Sterile disposable needles brand Vinco of stainless steel, size 0.30x25 mm

3

Integrative treatment, IT

8 treatment sessions once a week for 8 weeks 60 minutes session

4

Co-interventions

Other interventions; exercise and relaxation with briefing techniques

5

Practitioner background

Research nurse, trained in salutogenic dialogue, basic psychotherapy education, TCM acupuncturist, Education at Swedish TCM school. 9 years of clinical acupuncture experience

6

Control intervention 1 Therapeutic acupuncture, TA

Therapeutic acupuncture with unstructured salutogenic dialogue, once a week for 8 weeks. 45 minutes session

6

Control intervention 2 Conventional treatment, CT

Conventional treatment in primary care for 8 weeks