Adapted Evidence-Informed Expert Consensus on the use of Acupuncture in Managing Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Hong Kong: A Delphi Consensus Study

Study Background: Establishing an evidence-informed expert consensus on the use of acupuncture for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain at the primary care level in Hong Kong, using the GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework. Two-rounds of Delphi study were conducted guided by the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach and informed by systematic review. Methods: Sixteen local experts, including eight traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and eight biomedically trained doctors, were purposively sampled based on their clinical experience in pain management. A structured questionnaire was developed based on seven chronic musculoskeletal conditions and aligned with the six GRADE EtD criteria. Experts rated the appropriateness of acupuncture for each condition using a 4-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as ≥75.0% agreement. Participants reviewed diagnostic criteria and selected core outcomes for evaluating treatment effectiveness. Results: Positive consensus supported acupuncture for adhesive capsulitis, knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication, and non-specific low back pain. Full agreement was reached on diagnostic criteria for all seven conditions. Pain relief, functional improvement, and health-related quality of life were identified as core outcomes. No consensus was reached for hip osteoarthritis, cervical radiculopathy, or lumbar radiculopathy. Experts highlighted the need for individualised treatment plans and further research on implementation and patient preferences. Conclusion: This study presents the first expert-endorsed list of acupuncture recommendations for chronic musculoskeletal pain in Hong Kong. The findings support interprofessional collaboration and provide a foundation for developing referral pathways and clinical guidelines. However, the study is limited by reliance on expert opinion and indirect evidence, a potentially non-representative panel, and the absence of physiotherapist and patient perspectives. Future research should focus on implementation strategies and incorporate input from various stakeholder groups to strengthen the clinical integration of acupuncture.