Table 2.

The 12-item appraisal scores for the RCTs

Studies	Randomized adequatelya	Allocation concealed	Patient blinded	Care provider blinded	Outcome assessor blinded	Acceptable drop-out rateb	ITT Analysisc	Avoided selective reporting	Similar baseline	Similar or avoided cofactor	Patient compliance	Similar timing	Qualityd
Wang et al	Unclear	Unclear	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Yes	High
Liang at al	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Yes	Moderate
Roopa et al	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Yes	High
Kim et al	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Yes	High
Shi et al	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Unclear	High
Ou et al	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Yes	Moderate

a: Only if the method of sequence made was explicitly introduced could get a ‘Yes’

b: Drop-out rate < 20% could get a ‘Yes’, otherwise ‘No’

c: ITT = intention-to-treat, only if all randomized participants were analyzed in the group they were allocated to could receive a ‘Yes’

d: “Yes” items more than 7 means ‘High’; more than 4 but no more than 7 means ‘Moderate’; no more than 4 means ‘Low’