INTRODUCTION: @entity1118 ( @entity1118 ) affects 3-4% of @entity1 worldwide. Proven treatments for @entity1118 are limited and unsatisfactory. The meridian balance method (BM) electroacupuncture (EA) treatment (BMEA + Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Consultation (TCM HC) may be effective for @entity1118 . Previous EA studies have demonstrated an analgesic effect. Large-scale studies on acupuncture for other @entity1118 conditions suggest that @entity1 -healthcare provider interaction might play a role in @entity158 reduction. We propose a pilot study to explore the effectiveness of the meridian BMEA treatment in managing @entity1 with @entity1118 to inform a future large randomised controlled trial. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A 3-armed randomised controlled pilot study is proposed with an aim to recruit 30 @entity1 with @entity1118 in National Health Service (NHS) Lothian. Randomisation will be to BMEA treatment, TCM HC or standard care (SC). @entity158 , physical and emotional functioning questionnaires will be administered to all @entity1 at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12. Focus group discussions will be conducted when week 12 questionnaires are completed. The primary objective is to determine, recruitment and retention rates. The secondary objectives are to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of the proposed methods of recruitment, randomisation, interventions and assessment tools. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Scotland Research Ethics Committee ( @entity44993 /SS/1022). Data will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02295111.

The BMEA study: the impact of meridian balanced method electroacupuncture on XXXX with chronic pelvic pain-a three-arm randomised controlled pilot study using a mixed-methods approach.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'women', 'patient'] @entity44993 :: ('80349', 'Gene') :: ['REC 14'] @entity1118 :: ('MESH:D059350', 'Disease') :: ['Chronic pelvic pain', 'CPP', 'chronic pain'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain', 'Validated pain']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['women']
