Table 2.
Quality evaluation based on the STRICTA list.
| Items | Item details | Reported RCTs | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Acupuncture rationale | 1a | Style of acupuncture | 13 | 100% |
| 1b | Reasoning for treatment provided | 13 | 100% | |
| 1c | Extent to which treatment was varied | 0 | 0% | |
| 2. Details of needling | 2a | Number of needle insertions per subject per session | 13 | 100% |
| 2b | Names of points used | 13 | 100% | |
| 2c | Depth of insertion | 11 | 85% | |
| 2d | Response sought | 8 | 62% | |
| 2e | Needle stimulation | 12 | 92% | |
| 2f | Needle retention time | 13 | 100% | |
| 2g | Needle type | 13 | 100% | |
| 3. Treatment regimen | 3a | Number of treatment sessions | 13 | 100% |
| 3b | Frequency and duration of treatment sessions | 13 | 100% | |
| 4. Other components of treatment | 4a | Details of other interventions administered to the acupuncture group | 5 | 38% |
| 4b | Setting and context of treatment | 3 | 23% | |
| 5. Practitioner background | 5 | Description of participating acupuncturists | 0 | 0% |
| 6. Control or comparator interventions | 6a | Rationale for the control or comparator in the context of the research question, with sources that justify this choice | 13 | 100% |
| 6b | Precise description of the control or comparator | 13 | 100% | |