Quality Evaluation of Literature Reports on Clinical Randomized Controlled Trials of Acupuncture Treatment for Stable Angina Pectoris.

Objective: To evaluate the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for the treatment of stable angina pectoris.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in both Chinese and English databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, with a focus on studies published from the inception of each database to March 4, 2025. This search aimed to identify clinical RCTs exploring the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating stable angina pectoris. The reporting quality of the included studies was assessed using the (Consolidated Statement for Trials) CONSORT statement and the (Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture) STRICTA guidelines. The CONSORT statement, an internationally recognized standard for trial reporting, was employed to evaluate the reporting quality of intervention measures in acupuncture trials, while the STRICTA guidelines were applied to assess acupuncture-specific reporting quality.

Results: A total of 31 studies were included in the analysis. The results from the CONSORT evaluation indicated that 19 items had a reporting rate of less than 10%, predominantly related to trial methods and results, while 4 items showed a reporting rate greater than 90%, mainly focusing on abstract descriptions, inclusion criteria, and subject recruitment. According to the STRICTA guidelines, the primary factors influencing the quality of acupuncture-related reports included the rationale for acupuncture treatment, the treatment setting, the description of acupuncturists, and the rationale for selecting control groups or control measures. The reporting rates for these factors were 32.26%, 3.23%, 6.45%, and 25.81%, respectively. In the final randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and moxibustion for stable angina pectoris (SAP), 31 items met the inclusion criteria. The overall reporting quality of these RCTs was suboptimal. Notably, 77.42% of studies failed to report essential intervention details, while a substantial proportion lacked definitions of primary outcomes or adequate descriptions of randomization and blinding procedures. These widespread reporting deficiencies reflect poor adherence to CONSORT and STRICTA guidelines, thereby compromising the transparency, methodological rigor, and interpretability of the current evidence base.

Conclusion: The overall reporting quality of literature on acupuncture for stable angina pectoris needs improvement. Future RCTs should strictly follow CONSORT and STRICTA to enhance research reliability and transparency.