Positive Health Online

Abstract

MACPHERSON et al., Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, York, UK, E: hugh@ftcm.org.uk, recommend standards for reporting interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture.

Background

Acupuncture treatment and control interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture are not always precisely reported.

Methodology

An international group of experienced acupuncturists and researchers devised a set of recommendations for reporting acupuncture and control interventions. In a further consensus-building round, the editors of several journals helped redraft the recommendations.

Results

The recommendations are called STRICTA: STandards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture. They follow the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) format. Participating journals are publishing the STRICTA recommendations and require prospective authors to adhere to them. Other journals are invited to adopt these recommendations.

Conclusion

The intended outcome is that interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture will be more adequately reported and lead to an improvement in critical appraisal, analysis and replication of results.

References

MacPherson H, White A, Cummings M, Jobst K, Rose K, Niemtzow R. Standards for reporting interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture: the STRICTA recommendations. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 9(4): 246-249, Dec 2001.