ACURATE: a Guide for Reporting Sham Controls in Trials Using Acupuncture.

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Clinical Trial Methodology
• Acupuncture Research

Background:

• Standardized reporting is crucial for the validity and replicability of clinical trials.
• Existing guidelines like CONSORT and STRICTA provide frameworks for reporting trial interventions.
• Specific challenges exist in accurately reporting sham acupuncture procedures, necessitating specialized guidance.

Framework:

• The Acupuncture Controls gUideline for Reporting humAn Trials and Experiments (ACURATE) checklist is introduced as an extension of the CONSORT statement.
• ACURATE is designed for use in conjunction with the STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA).
• The primary focus of ACURATE is to ensure a clear and detailed description of sham acupuncture techniques.

Implementation:

• ACURATE provides specific criteria for reporting the methods used in sham acupuncture.
• This includes details on needle type, insertion depth, location, and manipulation for sham interventions.
• The checklist aims to standardize the documentation of control groups in acupuncture research.

Implications:

• Adoption of ACURATE will enhance the transparency and comparability of acupuncture clinical trials.
• Improved reporting of sham procedures facilitates more precise appraisal of treatment effects.
• This guideline supports researchers and systematic reviewers in evaluating the quality of evidence from acupuncture studies involving sham controls.