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Table 2 This table shows the characteristics of the included randomised controled trials

From: A systematic review of the effects of acupuncture on xerostomia and hyposalivation

Articles

Year

Country

Type of patients

Total of patients

Type of acupuncture

Type of control group

Studying preventive acupuncture effect

Outcome measures

Alimi [26]

2012

France

Receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

60

Auriculotherapy acupuncture

Sham/placebo acupuncture

No

VAS scores

Blom [27]

1992

Sweden

Variety of patients

21

Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture

Sham/placebo acupuncture

No

SFR and changes in subjective symptoms

Blom [28]

1996

Sweden

Receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

41

Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture

Sham/placebo acupuncture

No

SFR and changes in subjective symptoms

Braga [29]

2011

Brazil

Receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

24

Traditional Chinese and orthodox Western medicine acupuncture

Oral hygiene/usual care

Yes

SFR and VAS scores

Cho [33]

2008

South Korea

Receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

12

real acupuncture

Sham/placebo acupuncture

No

SFR and XQ scores

List [30]

1998

Sweden

Sjögren’s syndrome patients

21

Parotid, submandibular and labial glands acupuncture

Oral hygiene/usual care

No

SFR and VAS scores

Meng [31]

2012

China

Receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

86

Traditional Chinese medicine and biomedicine acupuncture

Oral hygiene/usual care

Yes

SFR and XQ scores

Meng [32]

2012

China

Receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

23

Real acupuncture

Sham/placebo acupuncture

Yes

SFR and XQ scores

Pfister [34]

2010

USA

Receiving neck dissection and radiotherapy for cancer

70

Standard and customized anatomic points acupuncture

Oral hygiene/usual care

No

Xerostomia Inventory

Simcock [35]

2012

UK

Receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

145

Bilateral ears, index finger and an additional facial point acupuncture

Oral care sessions

No

SFR. Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Head and Neck subscale

  1. SFR salivary flow rate, UK United Kingdom, USA United States of America, VAS visual analogue scale, XQ xerostomia questionnaire