Tarsin 2008.
| Study characteristics | ||
| Methods |
Design: parallel‐group randomised controlled trial; blinding not stated Duration: 4 weeks Setting: Tripoli, Libya. Setting not reported Trial registration: not reported |
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| Participants |
Population: 76 people with asthma randomised to face‐to‐face verbal training + 2Tone training aid (n = 26) or face‐to‐face verbal training alone (n = 25) (those with correct MDI technique were used as a control group; others were randomised to 2 training groups relevant to this review) Age: not reported Baseline asthma severity: not reported Inclusion criteria: patients with asthma using MDI Exclusion criteria: not reported Percentage withdrawn: not reported Other allowed medication: not reported |
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| Interventions |
Intervention summary: face‐to‐face verbal training + 2Tone training aid (no further details) Control summary: face‐to‐face verbal training alone (no further details) |
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| Outcomes |
Outcomes measured: inhalation flow rate, FEV1, Jones Morbidity Index (JMI) and Juniper AQLQ Technique assessment method used: inhalation flow rate through MDI |
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| Notes |
Type of publication: conference abstract Funding: not reported |
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| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Described as 'randomised' but no details of sequence generation |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | No details |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | No description of procedures intended to blind participants or personnel to group assignment |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | High risk | No description of procedures intended to blind participants or personnel to group assignment; for patient‐reported outcomes, such as QOL, the participant was the outcome assessor |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Drop ‐out not reported |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | High risk | No prospective trial registration identified. Minimal details reported as conference abstract only |
| Other bias | Low risk | None noted |