Abstract:Objective:To analyze and evaluate the outcome indexes of randomized controlled trials on Chinese medicine for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy,and put forward suggestions for the existing problems. Methods:Computer retrieval were conducted on Chinese and English databases,including China Biology Medicine disc(CBM),China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),VIP database(CQVIP),Wanfang Database,PubMed,Embase,CINAHL,CENTRAL and AMED,to collect randomized controlled trials on Chinese medicine for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy,from the construction date of each database to May 1st, 2015. Two researchers independently screened the literature and extracted data, and used the method of qualitative analysis to describe the outcome indexes included in the study. At the same time,the outcome indexes from Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments(COSMIN) and domestic and foreign guidelines were analyzed and evaluated by measuring instrument of outcome indexes,and the two indexes were compared and analyzed. Results:A total of 120 randomized controlled trials(RCTs) involving 17 outcome indexes were included,which were divided into two categories,namely efficacy evaluation and safety evaluation. Among the 120 RCTs,the most used scales in the outcome indexes were visual analogue scale(VAS) with 49 times,and cervical spondylotic scoring system(SSCR) with 15 times. There were 33 safety evaluation indexes,accounting for 27.5%. Only VAS,McGill Pain Questionnaire(MPQ), Neck Disability Index(NDI) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36) were internationally recognized and recommended. The total effective rate was used as the clinical efficacy evaluation index for 82 times,accounting for 68.3%,most of which applied Criteria of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect of Diseases and Syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Guiding principles for clinical research of new Chinese medicine(Trial) as the specific evaluation criteria. Conclusion:There is a certain gap between the outcome indexes used in the RCT of Chinese medicine for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and the internationally recognized outcome indexes. It is suggested that the relevant clinical research in the future should refer to the internationally recognized outcome indexes and measurement scales to improve the quality of relevant research.