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Table 3 The reporting number and percentage for each item of CONSORT 2010 checklist with the non-pharmacological trials extension

From: Endorsement for improving the quality of reports on randomized controlled trials of traditional medicine journals in Korea: a systematic review

Section/topic

Descriptor summary (Additional items from the non-pharmacological trials extension)

28 RCTs included in CONSORT endorsing journal

  

Number of RCTs

Percent (%)

Title and abstract

 

1.a) Identification as a randomized trial in the title

3

10.71

 

1.b) Structured summary of trial design, methods, results, and conclusions; for specific guidance (In the abstract, description of the experimental treatment, comparator, care providers, centers and blinding status.)

2

7.14

Total section (average)

2.5

8.93

Introduction

Background and objectives

2.a) Scientific background and explanation of rationale

28

100

 

2.b) Specific objectives or hypotheses

28

100

Total section (average)

28

100

Methods

Trial design

3.a) Description of trial design (for example, parallel, factorial) including allocation ratio

4

13.79

 

3.b) Important changes to methods after trial commencement with reasons

0

0.00

Participants

4.a) Eligibility criteria for participants (When applicable, eligibility criteria for centers and those performing the interventions.)

23

79.31

 

4.b) Settings and locations where the data were collected

23

79.31

Interventions

5) Precise details of both the experimental treatment and comparator

-

-

Outcomes

6.a) Completely defined pre-specified primary and secondary outcome measures, including how and when they were assessed

17

58.62

 

6.b) Any changes to trial outcomes after the trial commenced with reasons

1

3.45

Sample size

7.a) How sample size was determined (When applicable, details of whether and how the clustering by care providers or centers was addressed.)

0

0.00

 

7.b) When applicable, explanation of any interim analyses and stopping guidelines

0

0.00

Total section (average)

8.5

29.31

Randomization

Sequence generation

8.a) Method used to generate the random allocation sequence (When applicable, how care providers were allocated to each trial group.)

8

28.57

 

8.b) Type of randomization; details of any restriction (for example, blocking and block size.)

3

10.71

Allocation concealment

9) Mechanism used to implement the random allocation sequence (for example, sequentially numbered containers), describing any steps taken to conceal the sequence until interventions were assigned

1

3.57

Implementation

10) Who generated the random allocation sequence, who enrolled participants, and who assigned participants to interventions

5

17.86

Blinding

11.a) If done, who was blinded after assignment to interventions (for example, participants, care providers, those assessing outcomes) and how (Whether or not those administering co-interventions were blinded to group assignment. If blinded, method of blinding and description of the similarity of interventions.)

4

14.29

 

11.b) If relevant, description of the similarity of interventions

1

3.57

Statistical methods

12.a) Statistical methods used to compare groups for primary and secondary outcomes (When applicable, details of whether and how the clustering by care providers or centers was addressed.)

0

0.00

 

12.b) Methods for additional analyses, such as subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses

0

0.00

Total section (average)

2.75

9.82

Results

Participant flow (A diagram is strongly recommended)

13.a) For each group, the numbers of participants who were randomly assigned, received intended treatment, and were analyzed for the primary outcome (The number of care providers or centers performing the intervention in each group and the number of patients treated by each care provider or in each center.)

23

82.14

 

13.b) For each group, losses and exclusions after randomization, together with reasons

5

17.86

Implementation of intervention

Details of the experimental treatment and comparator as they were implemented

25

89.29

Recruitment

14.a) Dates defining the periods of recruitment and follow-up

22

78.57

 

14.b) Why the trial ended or was stopped

1

3.57

Baseline data

15) A table showing baseline demographic and clinical characteristics for each group (When applicable, descriptions of care providers (case volume, qualification, expertise, and so on) and centers (volume) in each group.)

10

35.71

Numbers analyzed

16) For each group, number of participants (denominator) included in each analysis and whether the analysis was by original assigned groups

3

10.71

Outcomes and estimation

17.a) For each primary and secondary outcome, results for each group, and the estimated effect size and its precision (for example, 95% confidence interval)

27

96.43

 

17.b) For binary outcomes, presentation of both absolute and relative effect sizes is recommended

1

3.57

Ancillary analyses

18) Results of any other analyses performed, including subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses, distinguishing pre-specified from exploratory

1

3.57

Harms

19) All important harms or unintended effects in each group; for specific guidance see CONSORT for harms

6

21.43

Total section (average)

11.3

40.26

Discussion

Limitations

20) Trial limitations, addressing sources of potential bias, imprecision, and, if relevant, multiplicity of analyses

20

71.43

Generalizability

21) Generalizability (external validity) of the trial findings according to the intervention, comparators, patients and care providers and centers involved in the trial

2

7.14

Interpretation

22) Interpretation consistent with results, balancing benefits and harms, and considering other relevant evidence (In addition, take into account the choice of the comparator, lack of or partial blinding, unequal expertise of care providers or centers in each group.)

2

7.14

Total section (average)

8

28.57

Other information

  

Registration

23) Registration number and name of trial registry

2

7.14

Protocol

24) Where the full trial protocol can be accessed, if available

2

7.14

Funding

25) Sources of funding and other support (for example, supply of drugs); role of funders

9

32.14

Total section (average)

4.3

15.48

Total

11.28

29.6

  1. CONSORT-NPT: Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials with the non-pharmacological trials extension.
  2. Values are presented as number of reported RCTs divided by the total number of eligible RCTs.
  3. Intervention on non-pharmacological trials included moxibustion and cupping intervention article besides acupuncture and herbal medicine intervention.