Wang 2013b.
| Methods | RCT | |
| Participants | People experienced at least 1 traumatic event according to DSM‐IV trauma criteria, with the latest traumatic event happening 3 to 60 months before; at least 2 reported PTSD symptoms on the trauma screening questionnaire. Respondents were excluded if they had insufficient reading or auditory comprehension competency in the Chinese language, insufficient Internet access time (< 360 min in 4 weeks), or acute psychotic symptoms, or were receiving other mental health intervention | |
| Interventions | Chinese My Trauma Recovery (CMTR) programme (rural/supported sample): 49 participants Wait list (rural/supported sample): 44 participants |
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| Outcomes | Primary outcome: PTSD symptoms measured with the Post‐Traumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) Secondary outcomes: depressive symptoms measured with Symptom Checklist 90‐Depression (SCL‐D); cognitive changes after traumatic experiences measured with Post‐Traumatic Cognitive Changes (PCC); functional impairment after trauma experiences measured by Social Functioning Impairment (SFI); and Trauma Coping Self‐Efficacy Scale (CSE) used to measure to what extent participants felt capable of coping with PTSD reactions at different assessment points |
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| Notes | ||
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Quote: "The participants were randomly assigned to the treatment or waiting list condition based on a computer‐generated randomisation list" |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | No information provided |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | No information is provided, but it's hard to believe that blinding of participants could have been respected in such a study design |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Quote: "Assessment had been computer‐generated on a professional Chinese survey website (equals a blinded assessment)" |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Less than 20% of participants abandoned the study prematurely Study endpoint: 1/49 missing from CMTR group; 5/45 missing from WL group |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | All outcomes are correctly reported |
| Therapist qualification | Unclear risk | Self‐help trauma intervention programme available on Internet and translated by study authors |
| Treatment fidelity | Unclear risk | No information provided |
| Therapist/investigator allegiance | Unclear risk | The programme was translated by study authors |
| Other bias | Unclear risk | Sponsorship bias cannot be ruled out |