Promoting international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine interventions

This study is led by Professor Xin Sun (Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, Cochrane China and IDEAL China Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China) and Professor Luqi Huang (State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China). The authors conducted a systematic analysis of TCM clinical trials published in PubMed and Clinically Useful Journals (CUJ). While the number of global TCM clinical trials has increased significantly, only 12.1% were published in CUJ. Notably, just 30 RCTs published in the top four journals (NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, BMJ), with acupuncture dominating (73.3%) compared to Chinese herbal medicine (10.0%). Most trials (23/30) were conducted outside China, while only seven were conducted in China. Clearly, the acceptance of clinical studies of TCM interventions remained suboptimal, particularly those conducted by Chinese researchers.

Three major challenges were identified: (1) suboptimal quality of clinical studies about TCM interventions; (2) inadequacy of supporting evidence that ascertains the consistency of TCM products and explains how TCM interventions work; (3) differences in regulation and culture that causes insufficient use and understanding of TCM interventions by foreign patients.

To enhance global recognition, the authors propose: (1) enhancing fundamental level of TCM Clinical studies; (2) developing multidisciplinary research team that includes both clinical and methodological experts; (3) bringing clinical research with non-clinical evidence; (4) conducting international clinical studies of TCM interventions; (5) increasing the understanding of TCM theories and care patterns by international community, and targeted promotional campaigns and educational initiatives are indispensable, and (6) promoting and disseminating registration of clinical studies about TCM interventions. These steps aim to improve the acceptance of clinical studies about TCM interventions, thereby making greater contributions to the health and well-being of population worldwide.

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Promoting international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine interventions

https://journals.lww.com/stcm/fulltext/2025/03000/promoting_international_acceptance_of_clinical.1.aspx