The study of reporting quality of randomized controlled trials in systematic reviews of acupuncture

Article type
Authors
Liu Y1, Huang J2, Zhang R2, Mai Y3, Zhao X3, Sun W3, Wei M1, Li YP1, Huo X4, Ke W2, Yang KH2
1Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, China
2Evidence-Based Medicine Center, The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, China
3Evidence-Based Medicine Center, The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, China
4The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, China
Abstract
Background: The reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is one of the factors during developing a systematic review (SRs)/meta-analysis(MAs). It is significant to know which information was ignored by reviewers in RCTs which were included in SRs/MAs.

Objectives: To evaluate the reporting quality of RCT in SRs/MAs of acupuncture.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), the Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database(CBM), Traditional Chinese Medicine database (TCM database), Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CJFD), Chinese Scientific Journal Full-text Database (CSJD) and Wanfang Database, until Deccember 2011. The RCTs in English and Chinese were identified from those SRs/MAs. The random samples were selected from these RCTs in 2001–2010. Data was extracted into excel spreadsheets according to pre-prepared data extracted forms. The reporting quality was assessed based on CONSORT (27 items) and STRICTA checklists (17 items) statements by two reviewers, respectively.

Results: A total number of 327 SRs/MAs of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and a random sample of 363 RCTs were identified and selected in this study. It showed that the reporting quality of 363 Chinese and English RCTs of acupuncture was poor. The scores of CONSORT of RCTs in 2006–2010 were higher in English than in Chinese (P = 0.000). However, scores of STRICTA in 2006–2010 of English RCTs were similar to Chinese RCTs (P = 0.440). Compared with these in 2001–2005, scores of CONSORT in 2006–2010 were significantly higher than in both English (P=0.011) and Chinese RCTs (P=0.001). Besides, scores of STRICTA in both English (P = 0.317) and Chinese RCTs (P = 0.853) in 2006–2010 were similar to RCTs in 2001–2010.

Conclusions: The RCTs from the SRs/MAs of acupuncture have not comprehensive reporting of relevant information based on CONSORT and STRICTA statements. The researchers should be pay attention to comprehensive report of RCTs on acupuncture.