Table 1.
Evidence base included in the review
| Category |
Number of records |
|
|---|---|---|
| Full papers | Abstracts | |
| Initial search | 69 | 19 |
| records excluded | 61 | 6 |
| records included | 8 | 13 |
| Additional papers identified | 0 | 0 |
| Search update | ||
| records excluded | 5 | 35 |
| records included | 8 | 12 |
| Publications not available on databases and supplied by manufacturer | 0 | 3a |
| Publications identified from additional sources | 4 | 0 |
| Level 1 clinical evidence (systematic review, meta analysis) | 1 | 0 |
| Level 2 clinical evidence (RCT) | 15 | 13 |
| Level ≥3 clinical evidence | ||
| trials other than RCT | 1 | 6 |
| case reports | ||
| Evidence from animal and in vitro studies | 3 | 9 |
| Economic evidence | 0 | 0 |
| Total records included | 20 | 28 |
a
Four were supplied but one was a duplicate of data presented in a full paper and was excluded. For definitions of levels of evidence, see Editorial Information inside back cover or on the Core Evidence website (http://www.coremedicalpublishing.com).
RCT, randomized controlled trial.