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Table 2 Overall quality score of reporting using items from STRICTA guidelines (n = 63)

From: Assessing the quality of reports about randomized controlled trials of scalp acupuncture combined with another treatment for stroke

Item

Criteria

Description

Number of positive trials

%

Cohen’s к

coefficient

95% CI

1

Acupuncture rationale

(1a) Style of acupuncture (e.g., Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese, Korean, Western medical, Five Element, ear acupuncture, etc.)

63

100

1.00

1.00

  

(1b) Reasoning for treatment provided, based on historical context, literature sources and/or consensus methods, with references where appropriate

56

89

0.82

0.56 to 1.02

  

(1c) Extent to which treatment was varied

2

3

0.79

0.64 to 1.20

2

Details of needling

(2a) Number of needle insertions per subject per session (mean and range where relevant)

9

14

0.83

0.64 to 1.02

  

(2b) Names (or location if no standard name) of points used (uni−/bilateral)

63

100

1.00

1.00

  

(2c) Depth of insertion, based on a specified unit of measurement Or on a particular tissue level

37

59

0.57

0.36 to 0.79

  

(2d) Responses sought (e.g., de qi or muscle twitch response)

52

83

0.88

0.72 to 1.04

  

(2e) Needle stimulation (e.g., manual or electrical)

31

49

0.90

0.80 to 1.01

  

(2f) Needle retention time

56

89

0.82

0.56 to 1.07

  

(2 g)Needle type (diameter, length and manufacturer or material)

49

78

0.74

0.52 to 0.96

3

Treatment regimen

(3a) Number of treatment sessions

60

95

0.85

0.56 to 1.10

  

(3b) Frequency and duration of treatment sessions

58

92

0.73

0.37 to 1.10

 

Other components Of treatment

(4a) Details of other interventions administered to the acupuncture group (e.g., moxibustion, cupping, herbs, exercises, lifestyle advice)

35

56

0.58

0.37 to 0.79

  

(4b) Setting and context of treatment, including instructions to practitioners, and information and explanations to patients

2

3

0.79

0.39 to 1.20

5

Practitioner background

(5) Description of participating acupuncturists (qualification or professional affiliation, years in acupuncture practice, other relevant experience)

35

56

0.70

0.51 to 0.88

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)

22

35

0.56

0.36 to 0.76

  

(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

48

76

0.63

0.37 to 0.89