Assessment of Completeness of Reporting in Randomized Controlled Trials of Acupuncture Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Huanrong Ruan; Hailong Zhang; Zhenzhen Feng; Xuanlin Li; Weihong Han; Yimei Si; Jiansheng Li

doi:10.2147/IJGM.S356666

Assessment of Completeness of Reporting in Randomized Controlled Trials of Acupuncture Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Int J Gen Med. 2022 May 31:15:5335-5348. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S356666. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Huanrong Ruan^{1

2}, Hailong Zhang^{1

2

3}, Zhenzhen Feng^{1

2

3}, Xuanlin Li^{1

2}, Weihong Han^{1

2}, Yimei Si^{1

2}, Jiansheng Li^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of P.R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, People's Republic of China.
² Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the completeness of reporting in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture therapy (AT) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), WANFANG Data, and China Biology Medicine (CBM) for studies published from their inception to May 8, 2021. The completeness of reporting was evaluated by CONSORT statement and STRICTA guidelines. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to preliminarily explore the factors related to completeness of reporting.

Results: A total of 44 RCTs were included. The overall quality score (OQS) based on the CONSORT statement and STRICTA guidelines ranged from 3 to 26 and 7 to 14, with a median of 10 and 11, respectively. Among the 35 items of the CONSORT statement, 10 items were fully reported with reporting rate > 70%, and 11 items were poorly reported at a rate < 5%. Among the 17 items of the STRICTA guidelines, 10 items were adequately reported with > 70%, and only 3 items were incompletely reported at a rate < 20%. The agreement of most items was determined as "good", "substantial", or "moderate". By regression analysis, publication language (β coefficient: 6.432, 95% CI: 3.202 to 9.663, P <0.001) and funding source (β coefficient: 3.159, 95% CI: 1.045 to 5.273, P =0.004) acted as independent predictors of completeness of reporting according to the CONSORT statement. However, no variables associated with the STRICTA guidelines were identified.

Conclusion: The completeness of reporting of AT for COPD was inadequate. The condition relatively improved for trials with publication in the English language and funding source. By recommendation, reports should be strictly standardized in accordance with the CONSORT statement and STRICTA guidelines to improve the clinical research evidence of AT for COPD.

Keywords: acupuncture therapy; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; completeness of reporting; randomized controlled trials.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation “Hundred and Ten Million” Talent Project – Chief Scientist of Qi-Huang Project ([2020] No. 219); Zhong-yuan Scholars and Scientists Project (No. (2018) 204); Special Program for Scientific Research of Chinese Medicine from Henan Province, China (No.2019JDZX2004).