Conclusion: The reporting completeness of the abstracts of the acupuncture MAs shows room for improvement, particularly in limitations, interpretation and important implications, which are important for interpreting and applying the results in clinical settings. However, contrary to previous studies, articles by China-affiliated authors and CAM journals had higher reporting completeness. PRISMA compliance declarations or checklist submissions were not significant influencing factors suggesting that authors’ actual understanding may be limited. Adequate training and specific journal policies are needed to enhance acupuncture MA abstract reporting