Comparison 6.

CST vs no CST: Patient outcomes

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Patient psychiatric morbidity (GHQ 12)	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2 Patient anxiety: Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory	2	169	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.40 [0.07, 0.72]
3 Patient perception of HCPs communication skills	2	170	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.14 [‐0.44, 0.16]
4 Patient satisfaction with communication	2	429	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.20 [‐0.23, 0.63]