ArticleMedical acupuncture2026
From Needles to Numbers: Leveraging Electronic Medical Records in Acupuncture Studies.
Article in Medical acupuncture, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Acupuncture, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, is recognized for its therapeutic benefits in chronic pain management. However, its integration into Western medicine is limited. Current research often features small sample sizes and single-center studies, lacking the statistical power for broader acceptance by those unfamiliar with non-Western medicine. This perspective advocates for utilizing electronic medical records (EMRs) to enhance acupuncture research. EMRs compile extensive clinical and demographic data, enabling comprehensive analyses. We present a preliminary review of the TriNetX database indicating increased acupuncture use following Medicare's coverage for low back pain with sciatica, notably among minority populations, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, data suggest potential links between acupuncture and reduced opioid use, faster recovery, and improved patient-reported outcomes. Employing EMRs for comparative effectiveness research, health economics, and longitudinal studies can validate acupuncture's efficacy and safety. By adopting big data analytics, researchers can meet contemporary standards and foster acceptance among policymakers and clinicians. This approach could expand access to acupuncture and establish it as a key component of evidence-based integrative medicine. We urge physician-acupuncturists and researchers to lead this evolution in acupuncture research.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.