Duan Yan-Shan, Wang Yi-Ran, Li Bin-Yan, Fu Zi-Tong, Tu Jian-Feng, Zhou Hang, Wang Yu, Wang Li-Qiong, Liu Cun-Zhi
International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
J Pain Res. 2024 Oct 16;17:3371-3383. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S477000. eCollection 2024.
To evaluate the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis and explore factors associated with the reporting.
Eight databases were searched from inception to August 2024 to assess the quality of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis RCTs based on the CONSORT, the STRICTA, and the CONSORT-Outcomes. We performed regression analyses on pre-specified study characteristics to explore factors associated with reporting quality.
One hundred and seventy-four RCTs were evaluated by 69 items from 3 checklists. Seventeen of 37 items on the CONSORT were under-reported (reported in less than 20% of RCTs), and the weakest reported item was why the trial ended or was stopped (0%). Four of 17 items on the STRICTA were under-reported, and the weakest reported item was the number of needle insertions per subject per session (9.2%). Eight of 17 items on the CONSORT-Outcomes were under-reported, and the weakest reported item was identifying any outcomes that were not pre-specified in a trial registry or trial protocol (0.6%). RCT locations include countries other than China, published in English, or funded were more likely to have better reporting.
RCTs of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis need to focus more on reporting details of acupuncture interventions, the reporting of protocol amendment, and the complete reporting of outcome-related content. Journals should encourage authors to adhere strictly to reporting guidelines, which is necessary to improve the quality of reporting, which is very important for Chinese journals.
评估针刺治疗膝骨关节炎随机对照试验（RCT）的报告质量，并探索与报告相关的因素。
检索了8个数据库，时间跨度从建库至2024年8月，以基于CONSORT、STRICTA和CONSORT-Outcomes评估针刺治疗膝骨关节炎RCT的质量。我们对预先设定的研究特征进行回归分析，以探索与报告质量相关的因素。
通过3个清单中的69个条目对174项RCT进行了评估。CONSORT中的37个条目中有17个报告不足（在不到20%的RCT中报告），报告最差的条目是试验结束或停止的原因（0%）。STRICTA中的17个条目中有4个报告不足，报告最差的条目是每位受试者每次治疗的进针次数（9.2%）。CONSORT-Outcomes中的17个条目中有8个报告不足，报告最差的条目是识别试验注册库或试验方案中未预先指定的任何结局（0.6%）。RCT的开展地点在除中国以外的国家、以英文发表或有资金支持的情况下，报告质量更有可能更高。
针刺治疗膝骨关节炎的RCT需要更多地关注针刺干预细节的报告、方案修订的报告以及结局相关内容的完整报告。期刊应鼓励作者严格遵守报告指南，这对于提高报告质量是必要的，对中文期刊而言非常重要。
