. 2024 Feb 16;12(4):483. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12040483

Table 3.

Summary of findings for all SMIs vs. UC.

Outcome	Number of Participants (Studies)	Anticipated Absolute Effects (95% CI) Difference	Certainty	Plain Language Statement
Glycated haemoglobin	58,621 (335 RCTs)	MD 0.39 % lower (0.45 lower to 0.34 lower)	$⨁ ◯ ◯ ◯$ Very low ^a	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^b on glycated haemoglobin, but the evidence is very uncertain
Long-term complications inferred from blood pressure:
Systolic blood pressure	31,526 (173 RCTs)	MD 4.29 mmHg lower (2.11 lower to 1.49 lower)	$⨁ ⨁ ◯ ◯$ Low ^c	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^d on systolic blood pressure
Diastolic blood pressure	29,047 (154 RCTs)	MD 1.12 mmHg lower (1.53 lower to 0.73 lower)	$⨁ ⨁ ◯ ◯$ Low ^e	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^f on diastolic blood pressure
Long-term complications inferred from lipid profile:
Triglycerides	17,462 (128 RCTs)	MD 0.12 mmol/L lower (0.20 lower to 0.03 lower)	$⨁ ◯ ◯ ◯$ Very Low ^g	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^h on triglycerides, but the evidence is very uncertain
Low-density lipoprotein	21,140 (123 RCTs)	MD 1.91 mg/dL lower (3.29 lower to 0.53 lower)	$⨁ ◯ ◯ ◯$ Very Low ⁱ	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^j on low-density lipoprotein, but the evidence is very uncertain
Weight management:
Body Mass Index	29,494 (174 RCTs)	MD 0.26 kg/m² lower (0.41 lower to 0.12 lower)	$⨁ ◯ ◯ ◯$ Very Low ^k	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^l on body mass index, but the evidence is very uncertain
Waist size	9500 (65 RCTs)	MD 1.23 cm lower (1.92 lower to 0.66 lower)	$⨁ ⨁ ◯ ◯$ Low ^m	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ⁿ on waist size reduction
Weight	16,124 (96 RCTs)	MD 0.89 Kg lower (1.37 lower to 0.42 lower)	$⨁ ⨁ ◯ ◯$ Low ^o	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^p on weight management
Quality of Life	10,169 (63 RCTs)	SMD 0.18 SD higher (0.03 higher to 0.34 higher)	$⨁ ⨁ ◯ ◯$ Low ^q	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^r on quality of life
Psychological distress	5481 (26 RCTs)	SMD 0.31 SD lower (1.17 lower to 0.55 higher)	$⨁ ⨁ ◯ ◯$ Low ^s	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^t on psychological distress
Hypoglycaemia	1788 (6 RCTs)	Rate Ratio 0.89 (0.56 to 1.42)	$⨁ ◯ ◯ ◯$ Very Low ^u	SMIs may have a marginal beneficial effect ^v on hypoglycaemia events, but the evidence is very uncertain

CI: confidence interval; MD: mean difference; SMD: standardised mean difference; RCT: randomised control trial; SMI: self-management intervention; Low certainty ( $⨁ ⨁ ◯ ◯$ ): our confidence in the effect estimate is limited; the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect; Very low certainty ( $⨁ ◯ ◯ ◯$ ): we have very little confidence in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect. Explanations a. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and very serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 1.839; I² = 0.9899). b. The effect was below the minimal important difference (MID) threshold of 0.5. c. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 9.0348; I² = 0.8212). d. The effect was below the MID threshold of 5 mmHg. e. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 3.4373; I² = 0.8765). f. The effect was below the MID threshold of 2.5 mmHg. g. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and very serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 0.1403; I² = 0.9007). h. The effect was below the MID threshold of 2 mmol/L. i. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and very serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 35.1182; I² = 0.9165). j. The effect was below the MID threshold of 38.7 mg/dL. k. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and very serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 0.5091; I² = 0.919). l. The effect was below the MID threshold of 2.5 kg/m². m. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 2.4503; I² = 0.6503). n. The effect was below the MID threshold of 8 cm. o. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 2.1513; I² = 0.7322). p. The effect was below the MID threshold of 11.6 kg. q. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 0.3343; I² = 0.8759). r. The effect was below the MID threshold of 0.5 SD. s. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias and serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 0.0437; I² = 0.6927). t. The effect was below the MID threshold of 0.5 SD. u. Downgraded due to serious risk of bias, serious impression, and serious inconsistency (Tau2 = 0.209; I² = 0.7988). v. The effect was below the MID threshold of 13 events per 1000 patient-year.