Table 4.
Study feature | Category (No of trials) | Absolute incremental improvement (%; 95% CI)* | P value |
---|---|---|---|
Clinical specialty | Paediatrics (9) v other (113) | 14.7 (8.4 to 21.0) | <0.001 |
Patient sample size† | Small (<median) v large (≥median) | 3.7 (0.2 to 7.3) | 0.04 |
Country | US (82) v other (40) | 3.7 (0 to 7.4) | 0.05 |
Baseline adherence‡ | <Median v ≥median | 3.3 (−0.2 to 6.9) | 0.06 |
Co-interventions beyond clinician education | Yes (35) v no (87) | 1.3 (−2.6 to 5.1) | 0.53 |
Provider sample size§ | Small (<median) v large (≥median) | 0.2 (−5.7 to 6.2) | 0.94 |
Study design | Quasi-RCT (16) v RCT (106) | 0.1 (−5.4 to 5.6) | 0.96 |
Educational co-interventions | Yes (57) v no (65) | −0.8 (−4.4 to 2.8) | 0.66 |
Publication year | 2009 onwards (87) v before 2009 (35) | −0.8 (−4.8 to 3.2) | 0.70 |
Care setting | Outpatient (90) v other (32) | −3.7 (−7.8 to 0.5) | 0.08 |
RCT=randomised controlled trial.
The third column shows the estimated pooled difference (and 95% confidence interval) in the percentage of desired care between the two study types listed in the first column. Results from 122 trials (108 studies) reporting dichotomous outcomes were each estimated using a univariate meta-regression model.
Defined as small or large relative to the median patient sample size. Across all trials, the median was 2237 (interquartile range 450 to 8574).
The proportion of patients in control groups who received the desired process of care. Across all trials, the median was 39.4% (interquartile range 17.3% to 62.3%).
Defined as small and large relative to the median provider sample size. Across all trials, the median was 81 (interquartile range 36 to 171).