Background
Methods
Information sources and search
Eligibility criteria
Exclusion criteria
Data extraction
Data analyses
Results
Study selection
Study characteristics
Included Trials | Publicati-on language | Type of stroke | Study designs | Sample size calculation | No. of Participants (male/female); age(y) | Course of disease | Interventions(n)Drug/dosage | Course of treatment | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trial | Control | Trial | Control | |||||||
Cao 2012 [14] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 40(22/18); 57.5 ± 9.8 | 40(24/16); 57.2 ± 9.5 | <3d | electro-scalp-body-Ac | WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents, neuroprotective agents, treatment of acute complications) | 4w |
Chen 2001 [15] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 21(14/7); Mean 64.8 | 16(10/6); Mean 66.1 | <3d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs*(specialized care) | 4w |
Chen 2010 [16] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 40 (27/13); Mean 54.4 | 38(28/10); Mean 55.4 | ≤7d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, neuroprotective agents) | 4w |
Chen C L (Unpublished Master’s thesis, 2008) [17] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 32(20/12); 50–75 | 32(18/14); 50–75 | <6 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | Ac + WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Dong 2011 [18] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 75(45/30); Mean 67 | 75(48/27); Mean 65 | <2w | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (, stroke rehabilitation) | 10d |
Er 2010 [19] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 30(16/14); Mean 54.2 | 30(18/12); Mean 56.1 | 1 m–3 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 6w |
Fu 2010 [20] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 80(41/39); Mean 62.8 | 80(43/37); Mean 63.3 | <1 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Gao 2012 [21] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 82(45/37); Mean 62.4 | 78(42/36); Mean 62.7 | 3–74d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd,) | 4w |
Gong 2008 [22] | Chinese | infarction; ICH | RCT | No | 32 (15/17); Mean 52 | 31(16/15); Mean 51.4 | Mean 36–38d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs*(stroke rehabilitation) | 6w |
Gosman-Hedstrom 1998 [23] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 37(20/17); Mean 76.1 | 33(9/24); Mean 76.9 | <7d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs*(stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Gosman-Hedstrom 1998 [23] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 37(20/17); Mean 76.1 | 34(17/17); Mean 79 | <7d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | Sham Ac + WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 10w |
Guo 2009 [24] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 30(17/13); Mean 56.3 | 30(21/9); Mean 55.6 | <7d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.3 g po qd, a week later recuced to 0.1 g po qd, stroke rehabilitation) | 14d |
Hopwood 2008 [25] | English | Infarction; ICH | RCT | No | 57(19/38); Mean 70.5 | 48(26/22); Mean 74.4 | 4–10d | electro-scalp-body-Ac | Sham Ac | 4w |
Hsing 2012 [26] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 35; Mean 50 | 27; Mean 52 | >18 m | electro-scalp-Ac | Sham Ac | 5w |
Hsieh 2007 [27] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 30(12/18); Mean 68.8 | 33(20/13); Mean 70.7 | <2w | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Hu 1993 [28] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 15(15/0); 63.6 ± 6.7 | 15(13/2); 62.8 ± 8.0 | <36 h | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Huang 2008 [29] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 40(21/19); Mean 63.6 | 40(20/20); Mean 59.9 | 14–90d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* + ENS | 4w |
Huang 2011 [30] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 35(22/13); Mean 63.2 | 35(19/16); Mean 65.3 | Mean 7.3–8.1d | electro-scalp-body-Ac | Ac | 6w |
Huang 2012 [31] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 32(12/20) 66.59 ± 10.482; | 26(16/10) 68.92 ± 10.53 | <6d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care) | 4w |
Jahansson 1993 [32] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 38; Mean 76 | 40; Mean 75 | <10d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 10w |
Jahansson 2001 [33] | English | infarction | RCT | Yes | 48(29/19); Mean 76 | 51(25/26); Mean 76 | <10d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | sham Ac + WCTs* (antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, stroke rehabilitation) | 10w |
Jin 1999 [34] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 60; Mean 68 | 60; Mean 68 | <1 m | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (specialized care) | 6w |
Jiu 2008 [35] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 40(23/17); Mean 62.7 | 40(22/18); Mean 63 | <2w | Electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 2 m |
Lei2013 [36] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 40(19/21); 48-61 | 40(25/15); 43–64 | 4–31 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Li 2006 [37] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 52(34/18); 66.8 ± 4.7 | 50(35/15); 67.1 ± 3.9 | <1 m | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care) | 3w |
Li 2011 [38] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 30(14/16) Mean 54.4 | 30(13/17) Mean 55.4 | <1 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Li X Z (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2005) [39] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 35(18/17); Mean 61.5 | 35(20/15); Mean 59.7 | <3d | electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, anticoagulantslow molecular heparin, treatment of acute complications) | 10d |
Liu 2007 [40] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 38(25/13); Mean 59.4 | 37(14/23); Mean 56.4 | <2w | Electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (specialized care, stroke rehabilitation) | 3w |
Liu 2010 [41] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 50(32/18); Mean 61 | 50(35/15); Mean 63 | 2d–6 m | electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 1 m |
Long 2004 [42] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 43(30/13); Mean 60 | 41(27/14); Mean 62 | <7d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* | 7w |
Luo 2012 [43] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 10(5/5); Mean 60.5 | 9(5/4); Mean 62.3 | 2w–1 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 6w |
Lv 2003 [44] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 29; 52–79 | 26; 52–79 | <5d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, volume expansion and vasodilators, neuroprotective agents, treatment of acute complications) | 1 m |
Naeser 1992 [45] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 10 | 6 | 1–3 m | electro-scalp-body-Ac | Sham Ac | 4w |
Pei2001 [46] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 43(28/15); Mean 71.6 | 43(24/19); Mean 69.3 | <7d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* | 4w |
Peng 2007 [47] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 40; Mean 54 | 40; Mean 54 | ≤7d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation) | 12w |
Peng 2009 [48] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 30; 18–70 | 30; 18–70 | Mean 2–3 m | electro-scalp-body-Ac | Ac | 45d |
Qi 2012 [49] | Chinese | Cerebral vascular disease | RCT | No | 39(20/19); 60.12 ± 6.34 | 39(19/20); 60.23 ± 6.45 | <12 m | electro–du-meridian-Ac | manual-body-Ac | 20d |
Sallstrom 1996 [50] | English | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 26; Median 57 | 23; Median 58 | 15–71d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 6w |
Sang 2011 [51] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 40; 38–75 | 40; 38–75 | <7d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (neuroprotective agents cerebrolysin vial 30 ml ivgtt qd, treatment of acute complications) | 14d |
Schaechter2007 [52] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 4(3/1); 28–80 | 4 | 1–10.2y | electro-scalp-body-Ac | Sham Ac | 10w |
Schuler 2005 [53] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 41; Mean 77.5 | 40; Mean 78.7 | 3–35d | scalp-body-Ac | Sham Ac | 4w |
Si 1998 [54] | English | infarction | RCT | No | 20(15/5); 68 ± 10 | 22(18/4); 67 ± 8 | <7d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (specialized care) | 7d |
Su 2002 [55] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 43(27/16); 58 ± 4 | 40(23/17); 57 ± 5 | <12 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation) | 20-30d |
Sun 2005 [56] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 40(27/13) | 43(29/14) | <12 h | electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (specialized care) | 12d |
Sun 2012 [57] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 35(23/12); Mean 57.5 | 35(17/18); Mean 56 | <3d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (specialized care) | 14d |
Wang 1998 [58] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 80; Mean 68 | 80; Mean 68 | Mean 24d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* | 20d |
Wang 2001 [59] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 106; 35–80 | 54; 35–80; | <1y | Electro-body-Ac | Ac | 6w |
Wang 2003 [60] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 32; 46–77 | 32; 46–77 | <14d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* | 20d |
Wang 2008 [61] | Chinese | ICH | RCT | No | 45(30/15); Mean 62 | 45(29/16); Mean 63 | <7d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care) | 4w |
Wang 2009 [62] | Chinese | infarction | Quasi-RCT | No | 65(33/32); Mean 72.2 | 50(26/24); Mean 70.1 | ≤3d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | ENS + WCTs* (antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Wang Q (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2009) [63] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | Yes | 24(15/9); Mean 62.4 | 22(14/8) Mean 57.1 | <2w | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs*(general supportive care) | 4w |
Wang X W (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2011) [64] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 31(17/14) Mean 57.4 | 30(19/11) Mean 60.3 | <3d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, treatment of acute complications) | 14d |
Wayne 2005 [65] | English | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 16(12/4); 38–89 | 17(12/5); 42–69 | >6 m | electro-scalp-body-Ac | Sham Ac | 10w |
Wei 2008 [66] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 46(29/17); Mean 59.4 | 44(23/21); Mean 56.4 | 2–7d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation) | 5w |
Wong 1999 [67] | English | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 59(38/21); Mean 60.4 | 59(42/17); Mean 60.6 | <14d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* | 2w |
Wu 2008 [68] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 30; 46–75 | 30; 46–75 | >1 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 30d |
Wu 2009 [69] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 29(16/13); Mean 56.7 | 29(17/12); Mean 58.5 | <14d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd) | 14d |
Wu 2011 [70] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 30(18/12) | 30(19/11) | >3w | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation) | 6w |
WuXL 2008 [71] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 32(20/12); Mean 67.2 | 29(19/10); Mean 66.6 | <7d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* + Ac | 3 m |
Xue 2007 [72] | Chinese | infarction; ICH | RCT | No | 18(14/4); Mean 66.1 | 18(15/3); Mean 64.2 | <2w | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation) | 4w |
Yu 2005 [73] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 16(10/6); 40–76 | 14(8/6); 40–75 | <3d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (vasodilators, neuroprotective agents) | 2w |
Yue 2012 [74] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 33(21/12); Mean 70.4 | 31(18/13); Mean 69.8 | 80-163d | electro-body-Ac | Ac | 1 m |
Zhang 1995 [75] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 40(23/17); Mean 65.8 | 40(22/18); Mean 68.7 | <7d | electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (specialized care) | 20d |
Zhang 2006 [76] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 32(17/15); Mean 62.7 | 25(15/10); Mean 64.5 | <6 m | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* + Ac | 30d |
Zhang 2008 [77] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 49(26/23) Mean 51.5 | 49(24/25) Mean 54.7 | <2w | Electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation) | 2 m |
Zhang 2009 [78] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 30(12/18); Mean 55.7 | 30(15/15); Mean 58.4 | <3y | Electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs*(stroke rehabilitation) | 1 m |
Zhang 2013 [79] | Chinese | infarction | Quasi-RCT | No | 45(27/18); Mean 65.5 | 45(30/15); Mean 63.2 | <3d | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, neuroprotective agents) | 4w |
Zhang SS (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2009) [80] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 29(17/12); Mean 62.9 | 29(16/13); Mean 63.6 | <10d | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation) | 3w |
Zhang X, (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2008) [81] | Chinese | infarction | RCT | No | 60(33/27); 40–80 | 30(17/13); 40–80 | <2w | electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation) | 2w |
Zhao 2005 [82] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 60(36/24); Mean 63.0 | 60(31/29); Mean 67.4 | <2w | electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, (treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation) | 1 m |
Zhu 2012 [83] | Chinese | infarction ICH | RCT | No | 40; 32–69 | 40; 32–69 | <2w | Electro-body-Ac + WCTs# | WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care) | 1 m |
Items reported according to CONSORT statement
Section/Topic | Item No | Checklist item |
n
| % (n /70) | 95%CI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title and abstract | 1a | Identification as a randomized trial in the title | 12 | 17 | [9 to 28] |
1b | Structured summary of trial design, methods, results, and conclusions (for specific guidance see CONSORT for abstracts) | 54 | 77 | [66 to 86] | |
Introduction | |||||
Background and objectives | 2a | Scientific background and explanation of rationale | 63 | 90 | [80 to 96] |
2b | Specific objectives or hypotheses | 65 | 93 | [84 to 98] | |
Methods | |||||
Trial design | 3a | Description of trial design (such as parallel, factorial) including allocation ratio | 58 | 83 | [72 to 91] |
3b | Important changes to methods after trial commencement (such as eligibility criteria), with reasons | 0 | 0 | [0 to 5] | |
Participants | 4a | Eligibility criteria for participants | 70 | 100 | [95 to 100] |
4b | Settings and locations where the data were collected | 58 | 83 | [72 to 91] | |
Interventions | 5 | The interventions for each group with sufficient details to allow replication, including how and when they were actually administered | 70 | 100 | [95 to 100] |
Outcomes | 6a | Completely defined pre-specified primary and secondary outcome measures, including how and when they were assessed | 68 | 97 | [90 to 100] |
6b | Any changes to trial outcomes after the trial commenced, with reasons | 1 | 1 | [0 to 8] | |
Sample size | 7a | How sample size was determined | 4 | 6 | [2 to 14] |
7b | When applicable, explanation of any interim analyses and stopping guidelines | 7 | 10 | [4 to 20] | |
Randomisation | |||||
Sequence generation | 8a | Method used to generate the random allocation sequence | 26 | 37 | [26 to 50] |
8b | Type of randomization; details of any restriction (such as blocking and block size) | 20 | 29 | [18 to 41] | |
Allocation concealment mechanism | 9 | Mechanism used to implement the random allocation sequence (such as sequentially numbered containers), describing any steps taken to conceal the sequence until interventions were assigned | 10 | 14 | [7 to 25] |
Implementation | 10 | Who generated the random allocation sequence, who enrolled participants, and who assigned participants to interventions | 7 | 10 | [4 to 20] |
Blinding | 11a | If done, who was blinded after assignment to interventions (for example, participants, care providers, those assessing outcomes) and how | 11 | 16 | [8 to 27] |
11b | If relevant, description of the similarity of interventions | 6 | 9 | [3 to 18] | |
Statistical methods | 12a | Statistical methods used to compare groups for primary and secondary outcomes | 68 | 97 | [90 to 100] |
12b | Methods for additional analyses, such as subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses | 0 | 0 | [0 to 5] | |
Results | |||||
Participant flow (a diagram is strongly recommended) | 13a | For each group, the numbers of participants who were randomly assigned, received intended treatment, and were analysed for the primary outcome | 5 | 7 | [2 to 16] |
13b | For each group, losses and exclusions after randomization, together with reasons | 15 | 21 | [13 to 33] | |
Recruitment | 14a | Dates defining the periods of recruitment and follow-up | 44 | 63 | [50 to 74] |
14b | Why the trial ended or was stopped | 2 | 3 | [0 to 10] | |
Baseline data | 15 | A table showing baseline demographic and clinical characteristics for each group | 23 | 33 | [22 to 45] |
Baseline data | 16 | For each group, number of participants (denominator) included in each analysis and whether the analysis was by original assigned groups | 57 | 81 | [70 to 90] |
Outcomes and estimation | 17a | For each primary and secondary outcome, results for each group, and the estimated effect size and its precision (such as 95% confidence interval) | 2 | 3 | [0 to 10] |
17b | For binary outcomes, presentation of both absolute and relative effect sizes is recommended | 0 | 0 | [0 to 5] | |
Ancillary analyses | 18 | Results of any other analyses performed, including subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses, distinguishing pre-specified from exploratory | 1 | 1 | [0 to 8] |
Harms | 19 | All important harms or unintended effects in each group (for specific guidance see CONSORT for harms) | 21 | 30 | [20 to 42] |
Discussion | |||||
Limitations | 20 | Trial limitations, addressing sources of potential bias, imprecision, and, if relevant, multiplicity of analyses | 10 | 14 | [7 to 25] |
21 | Generalisability (external validity, applicability) of the trial findings | 13 | 19 | [10 to 30] | |
Interpretation | 22 | Interpretation consistent with results, balancing benefits and harms, and considering other relevant evidence | 22 | 31 | [21 to 44] |
Other information | |||||
Registration | 23 | Registration number and name of trial registry | 0 | 0 | [0 to 5] |
Protocol | 24 | Where the full trial protocol can be accessed, if available | 1 | 1 | [0 to 8] |
Funding | 25 | Sources of funding and other support (such as supply of drugs), role of funders | 14 | 20 | [11 to 31] |
Total mean scorea
| 13.0 ± 4.0 |
Title and abstract
Introduction
Methods
Randomization
Result and discussion
Items reported according to STRICTA statement
Item | Detail | Total N = 70 | Chinese N = 54 | English N = 16 | Chinese vs. English (P-value for difference) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n
| %(n /70) | 95% CI |
n
| %(n /54) | 95% CI |
n
| %(n /16) | 95% CI | |||
1. Acupuncturerationale (Explanations and examples) | 1a) Style of acupuncture (e.g. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese, Korean, Western medical, Five Element, ear acupuncture, etc.) | 64 | 91 | [82 to 97] | 50 | 93 | [82 to 98] | 14 | 88 | [62 to 98] | 0.530 |
1b) Reasoning for treatment provided, based on historical context, literature sources, and/or consensus methods, with references where appropriate | 60 | 86 | [75 to 93] | 50 | 93 | [82 to 98] | 10 | 63 | [35 to 85] | 0.033 | |
1c) Extent to which treatment was varied | 0 | 0 | [0 to 5] | 0 | 0 | [0 to 7] | 0 | 0 | [0 to 21] | _ | |
2. Details of needling (Explanations and examples) | 2a) Number of needle insertions per subject per session (mean and range where relevant) | 25 | 36 | [25 to 48] | 18 | 33 | [21 to 47] | 7 | 44 | [20 to 70] | 0.452 |
2b) Names (or location if no standard name) of points used (uni/bilateral) | 68 | 97 | [9 to 10] | 52 | 96 | [87 to 100] | 16 | 100 | [79 to 100] | 0.442 | |
2c) Depth of insertion, based on a specified unit of measurement, or on a particular tissue level | 20 | 29 | [18 to 41] | 18 | 33 | [21 to 47] | 2 | 12 | [2 to 38] | 0.060 | |
2d) Response sought (e.g. de qi or muscle twitch response) | 46 | 66 | [53 to 77] | 39 | 72 | [58 to 84] | 7 | 44 | [20 to 70] | 0.035 | |
2e) Needle stimulation (e.g. manual, electrical) | 70 | 100 | [95 to 100] | 54 | 100 | [93 to 100] | 16 | 100 | [79 to 100] | _ | |
2f) Needle retention time | 40 | 57 | [45 to 69] | 32 | 59 | [45 to 72] | 8 | 50 | [25 to 75] | 0.518 | |
2g) Needle type (diameter, length, and manufacturer or material) | 46 | 66 | [53 to 77] | 38 | 70 | [56 to 82] | 8 | 50 | [25 to 75] | 0.222 | |
3. Treatmentregimen (Explanations and examples) | 3a) Number of treatment sessions | 48 | 69 | [56 to 79] | 38 | 70 | [56 to 82] | 10 | 63 | [35 to 85] | 0.558 |
3b) Frequency and duration of treatment sessions | 70 | 100 | [95 to 100] | 54 | 100 | [93 to 100] | 16 | 100 | [79 to 100] | _ | |
4. Othercomponents of treatment (Explanations and examples) | 4a) Details of other interventions administered to the acupuncture group (e.g. moxibustion, cupping, herbs, exercises, lifestyle advice) | 60 | 86 | [75 to 93] | 49 | 91 | [80 to 97] | 11 | 69 | [41 to 89] | 0.098 |
4b) Setting and context of treatment, including instructions to practitioners, and information and explanations to patients | 9 | 13 | [6 to 23] | 4 | 7 | [2 to 18] | 5 | 31 | [11 to 59] | 0.073 | |
5. Practitioner background (Explanations and examples) | 5) Description of participating acupuncturists (qualification or professional affiliation, years in acupuncture practice, other relevant experience) | 11 | 16 | [8 to 26] | 3 | 6 | [1 to 15] | 8 | 50 | [25 to 75] | 0.004 |
6. Control or comparator interventions (Explanations and examples) | 6a) Rationale for the control or comparator in the context of the research question, with sources that justify this choice | 7 | 10 | [4 to 20] | 4 | 7 | [2 to 18] | 3 | 19 | [4 to 46] | 0.302 |
6b) Precise description of the control or comparator. If sham acupuncture or any other type of acupuncture-like control is used, provide details as for Items 1 to 3 above. | 65 | 93 | [84 to 98] | 52 | 96 | [87 to 100] | 13 | 81 | [54 to 96] | 0.166 | |
Total mean scorea
| 10.1 ± 1.9 | 10.3 ± 1.8 | 9.6 ± 2.1 | 0.235 |
Acupuncture rationale
Needling details
Treatment regimen
Cointerventions
Practitioner background
Control intervention(s)
Comparison of reporting quality between Chinese and English studies
CONSORT item | Chinese N = 54 | English N = 16 | Chinese vs. English (P-value for difference) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n
| %(n/54) | 95%CI |
n
| %(n/16) | 95%CI | ||
Title | 3 | 6c | [1 to 15] | 9 | 56 | [30 to 80] | 0.01 |
Methods | |||||||
Trail design | 48 | 89 | [77 to 96] | 10 | 63 | [35 to 85] | 0.061 |
Eligibility criteria | 54 | 100 | [93 to 100] | 16 | 100 | [79 to 100] | _ |
Interventions | 54 | 100 | [93 to 100] | 16 | 100 | [79 to 100] | _ |
Primary and secondary outcome | 52 | 96 | [87 to 100] | 16 | 100 | [79 to 100] | 0.442 |
Sample size | 3 | 6 | [1 to 15] | 1 | 6 | [0 to 30] | 0.918 |
Generation of random sequence | 22 | 41 | [28 to 55] | 4 | 25 | [7 to 52] | 0.239 |
Allocation concealment | 6 | 11 | [4 to 23] | 4 | 25 | [7 to 52] | 0.26 |
Blinding | 4 | 7 | [2 to 18] | 7 | 44 | [20 to 70] | 0.014 |
Statistical methods | 53 | 98 | [90 to 100] | 15 | 94 | [70 to 100] | 0.361 |
Results | |||||||
Losses and exclusions | 6 | 11 | [4 to 23] | 9 | 56 | [30 to 80] | 0.004 |
Recruitment | 38 | 70 | [56 to 82] | 6 | 38 | [15 to 65] | 0.017 |
Numbers analysed | 47 | 87 | [75 to 95] | 10 | 63 | [35 to 85] | 0.081 |
Harms | 14 | 26 | [15 to 40] | 7 | 44 | [20 to 70] | 0.177 |
Limitations | 4 | 7 | [2 to 18] | 6 | 38 | [15 to 65] | 0.33 |
Total mean scorea
| 15.2 ± 4.3 | 12.3 ± 3.6 | 0.05 |