Acupuncture for Infantile Colic: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

Table 2

Details of acupuncture treatment.

Study ID (author, year)	(1) Acupuncture rationale	(2) Details of needling	(3) Treatment regimen	(4) Other components	(5) Practitioner background	(6) Control intervention
	(1a) Style; (1b) Reasoning basis; (1c) Extent of treatment variability	(2a) Number / (2b) Points; (2c) Depth / (2d) Response; (2e) Stimulation / (2f) Retention; (2g) Type	(3a) Sessions; (3b) Frequency and duration	(4a) Details; (4b) Context	(5a) Description	(6a) Rationale; (6b) Comparator intervention
Landgren 2010 [19]	(1a) Minimal, standardized acupuncture; (1b) Not mentioned; (1c) Not allowed	(2a) 2 points / (2b) Unilateral LI4; (2c) 2mm / (2d) Not mentioned; (2e) Without manipulation / (2f) 2s; (2g) Disposable sterile stainless needles, 0.2013mm	(3a) 6 times; (3b) 3 weeks, 2 times/week	(4a) Not mentioned; (4b) The infant was treated by a nurse who was alone with the baby in the treatment room.	(5a) Nurse skilled in acupuncture	(6b) No treatment
Landgren 2016 [20]	(1a) Group A: Standardized, minimal acupuncture; Group B: Semi-standardized individual acupuncture; (1b) Traditional Chinese medicine; (1c) Group A: Not allowed; Group B: Semi-individual acupuncture	(2a) Group A: 1 point; Group B: up to 5 points; (2b) Group A=LI4; Group B= choose one point, or any combination of Sifeng, LI4 and ST36, depending on the infant’s symptoms; (2c) Group A=3mm; Group B=1mm for Sifeng, 3mm for LI4, ST36; (2d) No deqi in both groups; (2e) Group A=withdrawn with stimulation, unilaterally; Group B=minimal stimulation, uni- or bilaterally; (2f) Group A=2-5s; Group B=1s for Sifeng, up to 30 sec for LI4 and ST36; (2g) Disposable sterile stainless needles, 0.2013mm	(3a) 4 times; (3b) 2 weeks, 2 times/week	(4a) Not mentioned; (4b) For all groups, it is encouraged to keep breastfeeding for breastfeeding mothers. All children received usual care and four extra consultations, which is called gold standard care. The infant was treated by an acupuncture practitioner who was alone with the baby in the treatment room.	(5a) 10 acupuncturists who had undergone acupuncture practice for a mean duration of 20 years	(6b) Usual care and four extra consultations
Reinthal 2008 [13]	(1a) Minimal acupuncture (light needling); (1b) Not mentioned; (1c) Not allowed	(2a) 2 points / (2b) Both LI4; (2c) Deep enough to reach the dorsal interosseous muscle / (2d) Rotated; (2e) Rotated, left, then removed / (2f) 2-5s; (2g) Disposable sterile stainless needles, 0.2mm	(3a) 4 times; (3b) 2 weeks, 2 times/week	(4a) Simethicone; (4b) For all groups, simethicone was offered. The infant was treated by a midwife who was alone with the baby in the treatment room.	(5a) Midwife trained in Western acupuncture and practicing it for more than 15 years	(6b) No treatment
Skjeie 2013 [21]	(1a) Standardized acupuncture; (1b) Not mentioned; (1c) Not allowed	(2a) 2 points / (2b) Both ST36; (2c) 12mm / (2d) Not mentioned; (2e) Without manipulation / (2f) 30s; (2g) Disposable sterile stainless needles, 0.2015mm	(3a) 3 times; (3b) 3 consecutive days, 1 time/day	(4a) Not mentioned; (4b) The GP was alone in the treatment room with the baby in the treatment room.	(5a) GPs educated from the programs of the Norwegian Society of Medical Acupuncture	(6b) No treatment

GP: general practitioner.