Rowe 2005

Methods	Study design: parallel group randomised trial. Study dates: study dates not available. Setting: outpatient. Country: UK.
Participants	Inclusion criteria: aged ≤ 70 years with diagnosis of CP/CPPS type IIIa or IIIb; each participant had previously undergone treatment with alpha‐blockers, antibiotics and several other therapies. Exclusion criteria: prostate cancer, pelvic radiotherapy, positive culture in prostatic secretion. Sample size: 21. Age (years): overall 47.8 (range 25‐67). Baseline NIH‐CPSI score: PSSI: Group 1 mean: 38.8; Group 2 mean: 39.3. Sex: men.
Interventions	Group 1 (n = 11): participants seated in Neotonus Electromagnetic Chair, for 2 consecutive 15‐min periods (1st period 10 Hz, 2nd period 50 Hz). Treatment included 2 sessions weekly for 4 weeks. Group 2 (n = 10): participants seated in chair, ventilation mechanism activated, but no active stimulation applied. Cointerventions: not available.
Outcomes	Prostatitis symptoms How measured: symptom questionnaire (9 items in a visual analogue scale, score 0 to 90); adapted from Nickel's questionnaire removing the digital rectal question (10 points). Pain and micturition subscores. Time points measured: baseline, 3 months and 1 year. Time points reported: baseline, 3 months and 1 year. Adverse events How measured: narratively.
Funding sources	'Neotonus™ provided the electromagnetic chair.'
Declarations of interest	Not available.
Notes	None.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: 'computer generated, blocked randomization.'
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information available.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) Subjective outcomes	Unclear risk	Participants blinded using a sham procedure; however, no information regarding study personnel.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: 'Patients were informed about the nature of the treatment, the treatment schedule and the possibility that they might be randomized to placebo but they were not given a detailed description of what local pelvic sensations, if any, to expect during treatment, so as not to bias blinding.'
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	Follow‐up data (all outcomes) available for all men. 11/11 in Group 1 and 7/10 in Group 2 (3 did not complete treatment) at 3 months. 8/11 in Group 1 and 5/10 in Group 2 at 1 year. Data on micturition subscore not available for Group 1.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	High risk	Results presented without SD. Urinary scores at 1 year reported graphically in Group 1. Confidence intervals did not match central estimates.
Other bias	Low risk	No other sources of bias detected.