Steele 1988a.
Study characteristics | ||
Methods | This study was carried out in a primary care setting, and it was open. Intention‐to‐treat analysis was not carried out. This study was conducted in the UK and Germany. |
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Participants | 207 participants were recruited: 18 dropped out. Inclusion criteria of the trial
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Interventions |
On alternate days, participants in all 3 treatment groups were instructed to soak their warts in warm water and abrade then with a pumice stone or emery board. |
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Outcomes |
Outcomes of the trial
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Notes | Multiple and mosaic plantar warts were excluded. Adverse effects were not assessed. |
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Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | This was randomly assigned using a random number tables. (page 256) |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | This was unclear; no details were given. |
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | This was unlikely because of the application of the intervention. Quote (page 257): "Liquid nitrogen does not lend itself to a double blind trial." |
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | This was unclear; no details were given. |
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | There were 13/129 withdrawals from the hand‐wart trial: 10/13 were irregular attendees; 2/13 withdrew because of pain; and 1/13 hospital were admissions, but it was not clear which groups the withdrawals were from. There were 5/78 withdrawals from the plantar‐wart trial: 4/5 were irregular attendees; 1/5 withdrew because of pain (groups not stated). (page 257) |
Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | Adverse effects were not reported. |