Quality of Reporting of Randomized Clinical Trials in Tai Chi Interventions— A Systematic Review


Author: Li JY, Zhang YF, Smith GS, Xue CJ, Luo YN, Chen WH, Skinner CJ, Finkelstein J. 

Affiliation: MS, National Study Center for Trauma & EMS, 701 W. Pratt Street, Suite 590, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. jli005@umaryland.edu. 
Conference/Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
Date published: 2009 Apr 7 
Other:
  Special Notes: online article   ,  Word Count: 329  
    Objectives: To evaluate the reporting quality of published

randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in the Tai Chi literature

following the publication of the CONSORT guidelines in 2001.



Data sources: The OVID MEDLINE and PUBMED databases



Review methods: To survey the general characteristics of Tai Chi

RCTs in the literature, we included any report if (i) it was an

original report of the trial; (ii) its design was RCT; (iii) one

of the treatments being tested was Tai Chi; and (iv) it was in

English. In addition, we assessed the reporting quality of RCTs

that were published between 2002 and 2007, using a modified

CONSORT checklist of 40 items. The adequate description of Tai

Chi interventions in these trials was examined against a 10-item

checklist adapted from previous reviews.



Results: The search yielded 31 Tai Chi RCTs published from 2002

to 2007 and only 11 for 1992–2001. Among trials published

during 2002–2007, the most adequately reported criteria were

related to background, participant eligibility and interpretation

of the study results. Nonetheless, the most poorly reported items

were associated with randomization allocation concealment,

implementation of randomization and the definitions of period of

recruitment and follow-up. In addition, only 23% of RCTs provided

adequate details of Tai Chi intervention used in the trials.



Conclusion: The findings in this review indicated that the

reporting quality of Tai Chi intervention trials is sub-optimal.

Substantial improvement is required to meet the CONSORT

guidelines and allow assessment of the quality of evidence. We

believe that not only investigators, but also journal editors,

reviewers and funding agencies need to follow the CONSORT

guidelines to improve the standards of research and strengthen

the evidence base for Tai Chi and for complementary and

alternative medicine.





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