Moxibustion therapy on lumbar disc herniation An evidence-based clinical practice guideline

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH), as a disease with great disturbance to life and work, is known as the origin of the severe and disabling forms of nerve root pain. Recognized as an increasingly widely accepted treatment, the efficacy of moxibustion on LDH has been affirmed. However, clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the treatment of LDH with moxibustion have not been developed. Therefore, we will carry out this work following the accepted methodological quality standards. Methods: The new CPG will be developed according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) and WHO guideline handbook. And then determine recommendations based on high-level evidence. We will set up a Guideline Working Group and define clinical issues according to the PICO principles (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes). After evidence syntheses and several rounds of Delphi process, we will reach the consensus. In making the guideline, Patient values or preferences, results of peer review, and interest statements are all within the bounds of what we must consider. Results: As the study is not yet complete, no results can be reported. Conclusion: So far, we will develop the first CPG for moxibustion of LDH strictly based on systematic methodologies in China. This CPG will establish the standard of LDH in moxibustion therapy. Registration number: IPGRP-2020CN034.