title: Assessing the quality of reports about randomized controlled trials of acupuncture treatment on mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reports' qualities which are about randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatment on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MIC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine databases including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL,2010), PUBMED (1984-5/2010), EMbase (1984-5/2010), MEDLINE (1984-5/2010), CINAL (1984-5/2010), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, 1980-5/2010), China Biomedicine Database disc (CBMdisc, 1980-5/2010), VIP (a full text issues database of China, 1989-5/2010) were searched systematically. Hand search for further references was conducted. Language was limited to Chinese and English. We identified 14 RCTs that used acupuncture as an intervention and assessed the quality of these reports against the Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In regard to the items in the CONSORT statement, 13(92.86%) RCTs described baseline demographic and clinical characteristics in each group. 7 (50.0%) mentioned the method of generating the random sequence, only 2 (14.3%) RCTs had adequate allocation concealment. No RCTs used blinding. RCTs reported the sample size calculation. In regard to the items in STRICTA, 10 (71.43%) mentioned the depths of insertion, 6 (42.86%) reported acupuncture response, 11 (78.57%) mentioned the technique of acupuncture, 12 (85.71%) recorded the time, and only 3 (21.43%) RCTs reported the numbers of needles inserted. No RCTs reported the background of the acupuncture practitioners and professional title of practitioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reporting quality of RCTs of acupuncture for mild cognitive impairment was moderate to low. The CONSORT statement and STRICTA should be used to standardize the reporting of RCTs of acupuncture in future.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hongcai
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiaying
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jun
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000465:Algorithms; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors