How to generate high-quality clinical evidence: Taking the study of acupuncture for chronic urticaria published in Annals of Internal Medicine as an example

Abstract

High-quality clinical evidence is the basis of evidence-based medical practice. Acupuncture is the most widely used complementary and alternative medicine in the world. However, the improvement in the quality of acupuncture clinical research does not match the rapid increase in the number of acupuncture clinical research in recent years. At present, the number of high-quality acupuncture clinical research in the world remains low. Taking the trial of acupuncture for chronic spontaneous urticaria published in Annals of Internal Medicine as an example, this paper discusses the factors that contribute to producing high-quality clinical evidence for acupuncture from the aspects of selecting the topic of study, formulating the study method, designing the study plan, controlling the study process, writing the study report, and selecting the journal in the process of before, during, and after the research. It emphasizes the necessity to start from the benefit of global people's health, take practical clinical problems as guidance, cleverly choose the research entry point, and conduct high-quality research with clinical value. After the accomplishment of the study, the results must be faithfully described, the scientific conclusions accurately sublimated, and appropriate scientific journals selected for publication.