Misleading readers without lies: understanding spin and its relevance to acupuncture research

This article provides an overview of spin in general and the current state of spin research in acupuncture studies. We introduce the definition and historical background of spin and provide an overview of its types with illustrative examples. Spin, reporting strategies that emphasise benefits or distract from non-significant results, may still be unfamiliar to many researchers, despite its critical impact on physicians and decision-makers by distorting interpretation and misrepresenting findings. We discuss not only the current state of spin research in the acupuncture field, but also specific types of spin commonly observed in acupuncture publications. Finally, we issue a call to action for researchers, journal editors, reviewers, and decision-makers to prevent spin in research articles. Reducing spin requires multifaceted efforts, including strict adherence to reporting guidelines, rigorous editorial and peer review processes, and increased awareness and training among researchers. By adopting a multidimensional approach, acupuncture researchers can become more alert to misleading reporting practices and ultimately improve the overall quality of reporting.