Development of an Expert Consensus on Electroacupuncture for Trigeminal Neuralgia Using the Delphi Method: A Study Protocol.

Abstract

<h4>Introduction</h4>Electroacupuncture (EA) is increasingly used in the management of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), yet treatment approaches vary widely across clinical practice. Standardized guidelines are currently lacking. This protocol describes a Delphi study designed to develop expert consensus on EA use for TN.<h4>Methods and analysis</h4>A multi-round Delphi process will be conducted with a multidisciplinary panel of clinicians in acupuncture, and neurology. Survey items will be developed from a systematic review, and experts will rate them to evaluate their relevance and level of agreement. Consensus will be determined using predefined criteria following the ACcurate COnsensus Reporting Document (ACCORD) guideline.<h4>Ethics and dissemination</h4>This protocol has received ethics approval from the relevant institutional review boards and has been registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF). The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and academic conferences.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study outlines a modified Delphi process designed to develop a structured expert consensus on the use of EA for TN. Its primary aim is to address the considerable heterogeneity in current EA practice by establishing a standardized framework for clinical and research parameters.<h4>Contribution to the literature</h4>This study addresses the lack of standardized recommendations for EA in TN and aims to provide structured expert guidance to support more consistent clinical practice.