From: Quality of reporting on randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation
Item | Criteria | Description | No. of positive trials | % | 95% CI | Cohen’sк coefficient | 95% CI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Acupuncture rationale | (1a) Style of acupuncture (e.g., Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese, Korean, Western medical, Five Element, ear acupuncture, etc.) | 12 | 80 | 57 to 100 | 0.65 | 0.38 to 0.98 |
(1b) Reasoning for treatment provided, based on historical context, literature sources and/or consensus methods, with references where appropriate | 12 | 80 | 57 to 100 | 0.78 | 0.60 to 1.00 | ||
(1c) Extent to which treatment was varied | 10 | 67 | 40 to 94 | 0.72 | 0.48 to 0.95 | ||
2 | Details of needling | (2a) Number of needle insertions per subject per session (mean and range where relevant) | 10 | 67 | 40 to 94 | 0.75 | 0.60 to 0.99 |
(2b) Names (or location if no standard name) of points used (uni-/bilateral) | 12 | 80 | 57 to 100 | 0.83 | 0.65 to 1.00 | ||
(2c) Depth of insertion, based on a specified unit of measurement or on a particular tissue level | 8 | 53 | 25 to 82 | 0.92 | 0.81 to 1.00 | ||
(2d) Responses sought (e.g., de qi or muscle twitch response) | 9 | 60 | 32 to 88 | 0.63 | 0.38 to 1.00 | ||
(2e) Needle stimulation (e.g., manual or electrical) | 13 | 87 | 67 to 100 | 0.74 | 0.50 to 0.99 | ||
(2f) Needle retention time | 14 | 93 | 79 to 100 | 0.78 | 0.62 to 1.00 | ||
(2 g)Needle type (diameter, length and manufacturer or material) | 10 | 67 | 40 to 94 | 0.70 | 0.53 to 1.00 | ||
3 | Treatment regimen | (3a) Number of treatment sessions | 10 | 67 | 40 to 94 | 0.62 | 0.33 to 0.98 |
(3b) Frequency and duration of treatment sessions | 10 | 67 | 40 to 94 | 0.69 | 0.43 to 1.00 | ||
4 | Other components of treatment | (4a) Details of other interventions administered to the acupuncture group (e.g., moxibustion, cupping, herbs, exercises, lifestyle advice) | 3 | 20 | −3 to 43 | 0.85 | 0.68 to 0.99 |
(4b) Setting and context of treatment, including instructions to practitioners, and information and explanations to patients | 5 | 33 | 6 to 60 | 0.64 | 0.35 to 0.98 | ||
5 | Practitioner background | (5) Description of participating acupuncturists (qualification or professional affiliation, years in acupuncture practice, other relevant experience) | 8 | 53 | 25 to 82 | 0.76 | 0.62 to 1.00 |
6 | Control or comparator interventions | (6a) Rationale for the control or comparator in the context of the research question, with sources that justify the choice(s) | 9 | 60 | 32 to 88 | 0.78 | 0.65 to 1.00 |
(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 1–3 above | 9 | 60 | 32 to 88 | 0.73 | 0.56 to 1.00 |