Table 1.
Study characteristics.
| Critical appraisal points |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citation | Study design |
Protocol description |
Assessors blinded |
Sampling | Allocation | Counterbalancing | p values | Effect sizes |
Appraisal score |
|
| Auriemmo et al. (2009) | Repeated measures |
Adequate | Not blinded |
Conv/HP/ NR |
Not random/ NR |
Not counterbalanced/ NR |
Rep/calc | ES/CI not rep/calc |
2/7 | |
| Glista et al. (2009) | Repeated measuresa |
Inadequate | Blinded | Conv/HP/ NR |
Not random/ NR |
Not counterbalanced/ NR |
Rep/calc | ES/CI not rep/calc |
2/7 | |
| Miller-Hansen et al. (2003) | Repeated measures |
Adequate | Not blinded |
Conv/HP NR |
Not random/ NR |
Not counterbalanced/ NR |
Rep/calc | ES/CI not rep/calc |
2/7 | |
| Smith et al. (2009) | Repeated measures |
Adequate | Not blinded |
Conv/HP/ NR |
Not random/ NR |
Not counterbalanced/ NR |
Rep/Calc | ES/CI not rep/calc |
2/7 | |
| Wolfe et al. (2010, 2011) | Crossover | Adequate | Not blinded |
Conv/HP / NR |
Random | Counterbalanced | Rep/Calc |
ES/CI rep/ calc |
5/7 | |
Note. Items in bold represent the highest quality level for each appraisal point; each is awarded one point toward the appraisal score. Calc = calculable; CI = confidence interval; Conv = convenience; ES = effect size; HP = hand-picked; NR = not reported; Rep = reported.
a
The study authors label the study design as a modified withdrawal design.