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Table 2 The level of evidence and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes

From: The effects of acupuncture on occipital neuralgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Variable

Overall effect

Studies (N)

Sample size (N)

Level of evidence

MD or OR

95% CI

P

I2

Acupuncture (sole) versus Medication

 VAS

−2.35

−2.84, −1.86

< 0.001

51%

5

305

Very low

Acupuncture (sole) versus Medication

 Effective rate

4.96

2.24, 10.99

< 0.001

0%

5

322

Low

 Effective rate (used less than 10 points)

4.57

1.52, 13.72

0.007

0%

3

187

Low

 Effective rate (used more than or equal10 points)

5.44

1.72, 17.19

0.004

0%

2

135

Moderate

 Effective rate (used meridian points)

6.69

2.44, 18.31

< 0.001

0%

4

255

Moderate

 Effective rate (not used meridian points)

3.03

0.83, 11.08

0.09

–

1

67

Low

 Effective rate (less than a week)

5.79

1.16, 28.94

0.03

–

1

75

Moderate

 Effective rate (between a week and two weeks)

3.85

1.18, 12.59

0.03

0%

2

127

Low

 Effective rate (more than two weeks)

6.39

1.52, 26.87

0.01

0%

2

120

Moderate

Acupuncture (+ Medication) versus Medication

 Effective rate

6.68

1.11, 40.37

0.04

0%

2

130

Low

  1. Abbreviations: MD Mean Difference, OR Odds Ratio, CI Confidence Interval, VAS Visual Analogue Scales