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Table 1 Rating of overall quality using items from the CONSORT guideline (n = 26)

From: Assessing the quality of reports about randomized controlled trials of scalp acupuncture treatment for vascular dementia

Item

Criteria

Description

Number of positive trialsa

Percentage

Cohen’s к coefficient

95% CI

1

“Randomized”

in the title or abstract

Study identified as a randomized controlled in the title or abstract

25

96

1.00

1.00

2

Background

Adequate description of the scientific background and explanation of rationale

14

54

0.68

0.39 to 0.97

3

Trial design

Description of trial design (such as parallel, factorial) including allocation ratio

2

8

1.00

1.00

4

Participants

Description of the eligibility criteria for participants

26

100

1.00

1.00

5

Interventions

Details of the interventions intended for each group

26

100

1.00

1.00

6

Outcomes

Definition of primary (and secondary when appropriate) outcome measures

19

73

0.78

0.49 to 1.07

7

Sample size

Description of sample size calculation

1

4

0.65

-0.03 to 1.32

12

Statistical methods

Description of the statistical methods used to compare groups for primary outcomes, subgroup analyses, or adjusted analyses

23

88

0.78

0.36 to 1.20

13

Flow chart

Details on the flow of participants through each stage of the trials (number of patients randomly assigned, receiving intended treatment, completing the protocol and analyzed)

22

85

0.62

0.12 to 1.12

14

Recruitment

Dates defining the periods of recruitment and follow up

21

81

0.71

0.32 to 1.10

17

Outcomes and estimation

For each primary and secondary outcome, a summary of results for each group is given, and the estimated effect size and its precision (for example, 95% CI)

20

77

0.75

0.42 to 1.08

18

Ancillary analyses

Clear statement of whether subgroup/adjusted analyses were prespecified or exploratory

0

0

1.00

1.00

19

Harms

Description of all important adverse events in each group

2

8

0.63

0.13 to 1.12

  1. CONSORT Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials. aPositive trials, the information for each item was stated so 1 point was given