STRENGTHENING EVIDENCE BASE FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN ASEAN, QUALITY OF REPORTING OF RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIALS OF HERBAL INTERVENTIONS IN ASEAN PLUS SIX COUNTRIES- A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Author(s)
Pratoomsoot C1, Sruamsiri R2, Dilokthornsakul P2, Chaiyakunapruk N3
1Discipline of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand, 2Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand, 3Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
OBJECTIVES: Traditional Medicine and the use of herbal interventions are regarded as an integral part of healthcare among countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). To date numerous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of herbal interventions have been conducted within ASEAN. It is recognised that good quality reporting of RCTs is crucial to the assessment of clinical significance. ASEAN has placed strong emphasis on the facilitation of research in Traditional Medicine, especially in the strengthening of evidence base for herbal medicines. The objective of this study was to systematically review the quality of reporting of RCTs of herbal interventions conducted in ASEAN Plus Six Countries. METHODS: Searches were performed using PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, and Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED), from inception through October 2013. The following limits were applied: Human; RCTs. Herbal species search terms were based on those listed in the National List of Essential Medicines [NLEM (Thailand, 2011)]. Studies conducted in ASEAN Plus Six Countries, published in English were included. Quality of reporting was assessed according to the 22-item Elaborated CONSORT statement for reporting RCTs of herbal interventions. RESULTS: Seventy-one articles were identified, of which thirty RCTs (42.25%) were conducted in ASEAN Countries, whereas 41 RCTs (57.75%) were from the Plus Six Group. Adherence to the recommended CONSORT checklist items for reporting of RCTs of herbal interventions among ASEAN Plus Six Countries ranged from 0% to 97.18%. Less than half of the RCTs reported methods used to generate random sequence allocation (item 8, 47.89%), and implement random allocation sequence (item 9 allocation concealment, 29.58%). Less than a quarter of RCTs (18.31%) reported information on standardisation of herbal products. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlighted the need to improve reporting quality of RCTs of herbal interventions across ASEAN Plus Six Communities.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2014-11, ISPOR Europe 2014, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Value in Health, Vol. 17, No. 7 (November 2014)
Code
PRM13
Topic
Clinical Outcomes
Topic Subcategory
Clinical Outcomes Assessment
Disease
Multiple Diseases