Table 1.
Association of reported methodological quality and sample size (publication data only)
| Assessment of reported methodological quality parameters | N (%) | Median sample size (range) | Kruskal-Wallis test P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allocation concealment | 0.09 | ||
|
| |||
| Adequate | 101 (24) | 215 (26–1387) | |
| Inadequate | 328 (76) | 242 (30–18882) | |
|
| |||
| Generation randomization sequence | |||
|
| |||
| Adequate | 98 (23) | 262 (40–18882) | |
| Inadequate | 331 (77) | 236 (26–3561) | |
|
| |||
| Blinding procedures | 0.05 | ||
|
| |||
| Adequate | 15 (43) | 234 (47–1387) | |
| Inadequate | 20 (57) | 123 (45–18882) | |
|
| |||
| Description of drop outs | 0.56 | ||
|
| |||
| Adequate | 418 (97) | 241 (26–18882) | |
| Inadequate | 8 (3) | 192 (47–1695) | |
|
| |||
| Intention to treat analysis | 0.16 | ||
|
| |||
| Done and reported | 392 (91) | 352 (86–18882) | |
| Not done and not reported | 36 (9) | 216 (43–724) | |
|
| |||
| Pre specification of α error | 0.14 | ||
|
| |||
| Yes | 138 (32) | 252 (30–18882) | |
| No | 290 (68) | 237 (26–2233) | |
|
| |||
| Pre specification of β error | 0.23 | ||
|
| |||
| Yes | 174 (41) | 244 (30–18882) | |
| No | 254 (59) | 236 (26–3561) | |
|
| |||
| Choice of the comparator | < 0.001 | ||
|
| |||
| Active Treatment | 351 (82) | 245 (26–18882) | |
| Placebo | 30 (7) | 132 (45–1387) | |
| Active Treatment + Placebo | 3 (1) | 260 (64–266) | |
| No Treatment | 45 (10) | 242 (30–4406) | |