Table 2.
Evaluation of evidence. The studies are categorized as conclusive (total score 8–9), highly suggestive (total score 6–7), suggestive (total score 4–5) and inconclusive (total score ≤ 3)
| Reference | Level of evidence | Randomization | Blinding | Group size | Similarity between groups | Equal treatment of groups | Follow up | SCORE | Categorization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [4] | IIB | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
| [5] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [6] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [7] | IV | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
| [8] | IB | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | CONCLUSIVE |
| [9] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
| [10] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | INCONCLUSIVE |
| [11] | IIB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [12] | IV | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [13] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [14] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [15] | IV | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | INCONCLUSIVE |
| [16] | IB | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | CONCLUSIVE |
| [17] | IB | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
| [18] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [19] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [20] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [21] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | SUGGESTIVE |
| [22] | IC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
| [23] | IC | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
| [24] | IV | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |