Journal
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES IN MEDICINE
Volume 76, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102961
Keywords
Randomised controlled trial; RCT; Homeopathy; Veterinary homeopathy; Recommendations; Guidelines
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This study summarizes the shortcomings identified in systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs with homeopathic interventions and provides recommendations to enhance the quality of RCTs in the field of homeopathy.
Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are an established research method to investigate the effects of an intervention. Several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs with homeopathic interventions have identified shortcomings in design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of trials. Guidelines for RCTs in ho-meopathic medicine are lacking.Objectives: This paper aims to fill this gap in order to enhance the quality of RCTs in the field of homeopathy.Methods: Identification of the homeopathy-specific requirements for RCTs by reviewing literature and experts' communications. Systematization of the findings using a suitable checklist for planning, conducting, and reporting RCTs, namely the SPIRIT statement, and high-quality homeopathy RCTs as examples. Cross-checking of the created checklist with the RedHot-criteria, the PRECIS criteria, and a qualitative evaluation checklist. Consideration of the REFLECT statement and the ARRIVE Guidelines 2.0 for veterinary homeopathy.Results: Recommendations for future implementation of RCTs in homeopathy are summarized in a checklist. Alongside, identified useful solutions to the issues encountered when designing and conducting homeopathy RCTs are presented.Conclusions: The formulated recommendations present guidelines additional to those in the SPIRIT checklist, on how to better plan, design, conduct, and report RCTs in homeopathy.
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