Moxibustion for Constipation in Patients with Stroke:Protocol of a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction:Constipation after stroke negatively affects the patients’quality of life.Moxibustion therapy may relieve the symptoms of constipation by moving intestinal Qi in accordance with traditional Chinese medicine theory.However,the effects of moxibustion therapy on constipation after stroke have not yet been systematically assessed.This review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of moxibustion therapy for constipation after stroke.Methods and analysis:We will search the following databases from inception to the present:Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials of The Cochrane Library,MEDLINE,EMBASE,Chinese Biomedical Database,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,VIP Database,and Wanfang Database.Randomized controlled clinical trials that assess the outcome of moxibustion for constipation after stroke will be included.Outcome measures will include mean weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements,the patient assessment of constipation,quality of life questionnaire,and others.Adverse events will assessed and reported for safety evaluation.Study selection and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers.Risk of bias assessment and data synthesis will be implemented using Review Manager software(version 5.3).Ethics and dissemination:This systematic review does not need ethical approval because no individual information will be involved.The protocol and full version of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Updates will be conducted if there is enough new evidence that may cause any of the review conclusions to change.