Assessing the Quality of Reports about Randomized Controlled Trials of Acupuncture Treatment on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate the reports’ qualities which are about randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatment on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN).Methodology/Principal FindingsEight databases including The Cochrane Library(1993–Sept.,2011), PubMed (1980–Sept., 2011), EMbase (1980–Sept.,2011), SCI Expanded (1998–Sept.,2011), China Biomedicine Database Disc (CBMdisc, 1978–Sept., 2011), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, 1979–Sept., 2011 ), VIP (a full text issues database of China, 1989–Sept., 2011), Wan Fang (another full text issues database of China 1998–Sept., 2011) were searched systematically. Hand search for further references was conducted. Language was limited to Chinese and English. We identified 75 RCTs that used acupuncture as an intervention and assessed the quality of these reports with the Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials statement 2010 (CONSORT2010) and Standards for Reporting Interventions Controlled Trials of Acupuncture 2010(STRICTA2010). 24 articles (32%) applied the method of random allocation of sequences. No article gave the description of the mechanism of allocation concealment, no experiment applied the method of blinding. Only one article (1.47%) could be identified directly from its title as about the Randomized Controlled Trials, and only 4 articles gave description of the experimental design. No article mentioned the number of cases lost or eliminated. During one experiment, acupuncture syncope led to temporal interruption of the therapy. Two articles (2.94%) recorded the number of needles, and 8 articles (11.76%) mentioned the depth of needle insertion. None of articles reported the base of calculation of sample size, or has any analysis about the metaphase of an experiment or an explanation of its interruption. One (1.47%) mentioned intentional analysis (ITT).Conclusions/SignificanceThe quality of the reports on RCTs of acupuncture for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is moderate to low. The CONSORT2010 and STRICTA2010 should be used to standardize the reporting of RCTs of acupuncture in future.

Diagnostic Significance of Serum Levels of Nerve Growth Factor and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

“…As DPN cannot be cured and nerve damage cannot be repaired, the current treatment for DPN, including medications and acupuncture, can only help minimize pain and alleviate some other symptoms [21]. Kim et al reported that serum total bilirubin level was conversely linked with DPN [22].…”

Paraspinal Stimulation Combined With Trigger Point Needling and Needle Rotation for the Treatment of Myofascial Pain

“…In contrast, the objective of this trial was to compare different techniques with intrinsic characteristics making a perfect blinding impossible. However, the efficacy of the treatments needs to be established using randomized controlled trials (RCT) standardized according to guidelines such as CONSORT, 50 which will permit these techniques to be replicated in future studies and to comprise a therapeutic approach to pain management supported by strong scientific evidence. In contrast, we used a sham-treatment technique that was mostly physiologically inert type and has been used elsewhere.…”

Electroacupuncture to treat painful diabetic neuropathy: study protocol for a three-armed, randomized, controlled pilot trial

“…In spite of the large number of studies of acupuncture for PDN, the quality of the reports was limited, and their clinical value cannot be determined [25]. To reduce the risk of bias, we will conduct our study with proper randomization and allocation concealment.…”

“…According to a recent review [25] assessing the quality of the RCTs of acupuncture in DPN, 75 RCTs that used acupuncture as an intervention were identified for analysis through a systematic search. However, the quality of almost all of the studies was low because the researchers did not follow standard reporting guidelines, such as the Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials statement 2010 (CONSORT2010) and Standards for Reporting Interventions Controlled Trials of Acupuncture 2010 (STRICTA2010).…”