录入

Hello!

This questionnaire aims to collect perspectives from individuals on conducting acupuncture clinical research, to inform the development of methodological guidelines. We welcome anyone with knowledge or experience in acupuncture—including medical professionals, patients, or individuals from other backgrounds—to complete this questionnaire.

This questionnaire consists of five sections. If you have not participated in the design, implementation, or reporting of any clinical research, you only need to complete the first two sections. It will take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. All responses will be used for academic purposes only, and personal information will be kept confidential.

If you have any questions regarding this questionnaire, please contact: gangwj@mail.cintcm.ac.cn; gangweijuan@126.com.

Thank you for your support.

Acupuncture Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

I. Basic Information
1. How should we address you?
2. Sex (at birth):
3. Age:
4. Primary role(s):
Which symptoms prompted you to plan or receive acupuncture?

Which hospital did you receive treatment at? 

5. Affiliated institution / workplace: 
6. Specialty / field: 
7. Professional title / rank: 
8. Education level:
9. Region / location:
10. Have you ever participated in the design, implementation, or reporting of any clinical research? 
11. Have you ever participated in the design, implementation, or reporting of acupuncture clinical research?

II. Research Perspectives

*NOTE:* The following questions mainly use a 9-point rating scale. Please rate the importance of each item by entering a number from 1 to 9, or slide the scroll bar, where higher scores indicate greater importance:

· 1–3: Low importance

· 4–6: Moderately important but not critical

· 7–9: Critically important

1. From your perspective, please rate the importance of the objectives of acupuncture clinical research (1–9: 1–3 = low importance; 4–6 = moderately important but not critical; 7–9 = critically important):

1.1 Demonstrate whether acupuncture is effective
1
9
1.2 Demonstrate the effect differences between acupuncture and conventional therapies (e.g., drug treatment)
1
9
1.3 Demonstrate the safety of acupuncture
1
9
1.4 Demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture (relationship between cost and health benefit)
1
9
1.5 Improve the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture (which acupuncture protocols are more effective)
1
9
1.6 Publish high-quality research papers
1
9
1.7 Explore which populations (e.g., by gender, age) benefit more from acupuncture
1
9
1.8 Explore the scientific mechanisms of acupuncture
1
9
1.9 Explore methodologies for acupuncture clinical research
1
9
1.10 Enhance the visibility and recognition of acupuncture therapy
1
9
1.11 Develop acupuncture treatment devices
1
9
1.12 Provide evidence to inform health policy decisions
1
9
Do you think there are any other important objectives?
- Other acupuncture clinical research objective you consider important:
If any
- Importance of this objective
1
9
Please indicate the single most important objective:
Please indicate the single least important objective：

2. From your perspective, please rate the importance of different participants in designing an acupuncture clinical study (1–9: 1–3 = low importance; 4–6 = moderately important but not critical; 7–9 = critically important):

2.1 Acupuncturist
1
9
2.2 Non-acupuncture clinical experts in the disease area being studied
1
9
2.3 Patients in the disease area being studied (participating in study design)
1
9
2.4 Experts providing methodological support in clinical epidemiology, statistics, health economics, etc.
1
9
2.5 Health policy makers or government health administration staff
1
9
2.6 Academic journal editors
1
9
Do you think there are any other important participants
- Other participant you consider important:
If any
- Importance of this participant
1
9

III. Research Stages

Have you ever participated in the design, implementation, or reporting of any clinical research?

From your perspective, please evaluate the importance of the following for a series of acupuncture clinical studies:

· The importance of conducting each research stage

· The importance of the research objectives defined within each stage

(Rate each item from 1 to 9: 1–3 = low importance; 4–6 = moderately important but not critical; 7–9 = critically important)

1. Retrospective data analysis (e.g., electronic medical record databases)

Importance of conducting this stage
1
9
Please rate the importance of each research objective for retrospective data analysis
1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
1.2 Assess feasibility for future research
1
9
1.3 Identify factors affecting treatment outcomes
1
9
1.4 Inform improvement of clinical acupuncture protocols
1
9
1.5 Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
Do you think there are any other important objectives for retrospective data analysis
- Other research objectives you consider important for retrospective data analysis
If any
- Importance of this objective
1
9

2. Small-sample observational study (e.g., case series, small cohort, usually <80 participants)

Importance of conducting this stage
1
9
Please rate the importance of each research objective for small-sample observational study
1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
1.2 Assess feasibility for future research
1
9
1.3 Identify factors affecting treatment outcomes
1
9
1.4 Inform improvement of clinical acupuncture protocols
1
9
1.5 Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
Do you think there are any other important objectives for small-sample observational study
- Other research objectives you consider important for small-sample observational studies
If any
- Importance of this objective
1
9

3. Large-sample observational study (e.g., large cohort, case-control study)

Importance of conducting this stage
1
9
Please rate the importance of each research objective for large-sample observational study
1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
1.2 Assess feasibility for future research
1
9
1.3 Identify factors affecting treatment outcomes
1
9
1.4 Inform improvement of clinical acupuncture protocols
1
9
1.5 Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
Do you think there are any other important objectives for large-sample observational study
- Other research objectives you consider important for large-sample observational studies
If any
- Importance of this objective
1
9

4. Small-sample interventional study (e.g., small RCT pilot, usually <80 participants)

Importance of conducting this stage
1
9
Please rate the importance of each research objective for small-sample interventional study 
1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
1.2 Assess feasibility for future research
1
9
1.3 Identify factors affecting treatment outcomes
1
9
1.4 Inform improvement of clinical acupuncture protocols
1
9
1.5 Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
Do you think there are any other important objectives for small-sample interventional study
- Other research objectives you consider important for small-sample interventional studies
If any
- Importance of this objective
1
9

5. Large-sample interventional study (e.g., confirmatory RCT)

Importance of conducting this stage
1
9
Please rate the importance of each research objective for large-sample interventional study
1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
1.2 Assess feasibility for future research
1
9
1.3 Identify factors affecting treatment outcomes
1
9
1.4 Inform improvement of clinical acupuncture protocols
1
9
1.5 Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
Do you think there are any other important objectives for large-sample interventional study
- Other research objectives you consider important for large-sample interventional studies: 
If any 
- Importance of this objective
1
9
6. Do you think there are any other important research stages suitable for acupuncture intervention

- Other research stages you consider important

If any

Importance of this stage
1
9
Please rate the importance of each research objective for this stage
1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
1.2 Assess feasibility for future research
1
9
1.3 Identify factors affecting treatment outcomes
1
9
1.4 Inform improvement of clinical acupuncture protocols
1
9
1.5 Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture
1
9
- Other research objectives you consider important for this stage
If any
- Importance of this objective
1
9

IV. Study Design

From your perspective, please rate the importance of each study design for different research objectives in a series of acupuncture clinical studies (1–9: 1–3 = low importance; 4–6 = moderately important but not critical; 7–9 = critically important)

1. Evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture (specific effect, usually compared to sham control)

1.1 Use random assignment
1
9
1.2 Apply strict inclusion and exclusion criteria (vs. broad criteria)
1
9
1.3 Use standardized (fixed protocol) or semi-standardized acupuncture prescription
1
9
1.4 Use fully individualized acupuncture prescription
1
9
1.5 Participant blinding
1
9
1.6 Use disease-specific outcome scales
1
9
1.7 Use disease-specific laboratory or other objective indicators
1
9
1.8 Use generic quality-of-life measures
1
9
For evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture, do you think there are any other important design elements?
- Other study design elements you consider important
If any
-  Importance of this design element 
1
9

2. Evaluate the overall effect of acupuncture (including specific and non-specific effects)

1.1 Use random assignment
1
9
1.2 Apply strict inclusion and exclusion criteria (vs. broad criteria)
1
9
1.3 Use standardized (fixed protocol) or semi-standardized acupuncture prescription
1
9
1.4 Use fully individualized acupuncture prescription
1
9
1.5 Participant blinding
1
9
1.6 Use disease-specific outcome scales
1
9
1.7 Use disease-specific laboratory or other objective indicators
1
9
1.8 Use generic quality-of-life measures
1
9
For evaluating the overall effect of acupuncture, do you think there are any other important design elements?
- Other study design elements you consider important
If any
- Importance of this design element
1
9

3. Improve clinical acupuncture treatment effectiveness (assess which acupuncture protocols are more effective)

1.1 Use random assignment
1
9
1.2 Apply strict inclusion and exclusion criteria (vs. broad criteria)
1
9
1.3 Use standardized (fixed protocol) or semi-standardized acupuncture prescription
1
9
1.4 Use fully individualized acupuncture prescription
1
9
1.5 Participant blinding
1
9
1.6 Use disease-specific outcome scales
1
9
1.7 Use disease-specific laboratory or other objective indicators
1
9
1.8 Use generic quality-of-life measures
1
9
For improving the clinical acupuncture treatment effectiveness, do you think there are any other important design elements?
-  Other study design elements you consider important
If any
- Importance of this design element
1
9
V. Core Elements

From your perspective, please rate the importance of the following elements in any acupuncture clinical study (1–9: 1–3 = low importance; 4–6 = moderately important but not critical; 7–9 = critically important):

1. Research context – including healthcare setting, patient–practitioner interaction and relationship, conditions for treatment delivery, patient characteristics and health status, participant expectations and perceptions, and relevant institutional and social environment
1
9
2. Current evidence of the acupuncture intervention
1
9
3. Theoretical basis – including TCM theory or modern biomedical mechanism explanations
1
9
4. Target population – suitable patient types, e.g., age, disease severity
1
9
5. Selection of acupuncture points / treatment sites
1
9
6. Acupuncture procedures – specific techniques such as needle insertion method, stimulation type (manual, electroacupuncture, etc.)
1
9
7. Treatment dosage – frequency, duration per session, number of points
1
9
8. Stakeholder involvement – participation of patients, practitioners, researchers, or policymakers in study design or implementation
1
9
9. Cost-effectiveness – relationship between the cost of acupuncture and health benefits obtained
1
9
Do you think there are any other important elements in any acupuncture clinical study
- Other elements you consider important in any acupuncture clinical study
If any
- Importance of this element
1
9
Please indicate the single most important element from the list
Please indicate the single least important element from the list
If you have any additional comments, perspectives, or suggestions regarding acupuncture clinical research, please write them in the space below. Your input is greatly appreciated.
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