Advancements and challenges of acupuncture randomized controlled trials.
10.1016/j.joim.2025.06.001
- Author:
Wei Song SEETOH
1
;
Rachel Qin Rui LIM
1
;
Run-Bing XU
2
;
Ming-Xun SUN
2
;
Peng ZHANG
3
,
4
;
Mi-Na WANG
4
,
5
Author Information
1. International School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
2. Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China. Electronic address: zp891223@
4. com.
5. Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address: WMNmmm@
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Acupuncture;
Chinese medicine;
Methodology;
Randomized controlled trials
- MeSH:
Acupuncture Therapy;
Humans;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/methods*;
Research Design
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2025;23(4):333-343
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Acupuncture is an ancient treatment method used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been popularized worldwide. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the amount of acupuncture research, mostly comprised of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that aimed to answer the question on the efficacy of acupuncture. However, poor methodology and low replicability in these acupuncture RCTs have resulted in uncertainty about the efficacy of acupuncture. In this review, current advancements and challenges in acupuncture RCTs, regarding the methodological aspects of randomization, blinding, sham acupuncture and quality of reporting, were discussed. While there have been advancements in various aspects, current acupuncture RCTs still face pressing issues such as inadequate randomization and blinding, unviable sham acupuncture controls, and poor reporting quality. Given these limitations, this review seeks to identify the methodological problems that are responsible for these problems and to suggest solutions that could help to overcome them so as to improve the quality of future studies evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture. Please cite this article as: Seetoh WS, Lim RQR, Xu RB, Sun MX, Zhang P, Wang MN. Advancements and challenges of acupuncture randomized controlled trials. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 333-343.
