Table 2.
Summary of findings and assessment of the quality of evidence for outcomes (N=56).
| Outcomes | Studies, n (%) | Certainty assessment | Effect | Certainty | ||||||||
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|
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Study design | Risk of bias | Inconsistency | Indirectness | Imprecision | Other considerations | Individuals (n=9359), n (%) | SMDa rate (95% CI) |
|
||
| Pain (follow-up: mean 25 weeks) | 37 (66.1) | Randomized trials | Seriousb | Not serious | Not serious | Not serious | None | 5323 (56.9) | 0.19 (0.06 to 0.31) | Moderate | ||
| Disability and function (follow-up: mean 27 weeks) | 30 (53.6) | Randomized trials | Seriousb | Not serious | Not serious | Not serious | None | 4849 (51.8) | 0.14 (0.03 to 0.25) | Moderate | ||
| Quality of life (follow-up: mean 25 weeks) | 24 (42.9) | Randomized trials | Not serious | Not serious | Not serious | Not serious | None | 3995 (42.5) | 0.22 (0.07 to 0.36) | High | ||
| Emotional functioning (follow-up: mean 29 weeks) | 24 (42.9) | Randomized trials | Seriousb | Seriousc | Not serious | Not serious | None | 3814 (40.8) | 0.24 (0.12 to 0.35) | Low | ||
| Self-management (follow-up: mean 26 weeks) | 21 (37.5) | Randomized trials | Seriousb | Not serious | Not serious | Not serious | None | 2857 (30.5) | 0.14 (0.05 to 0.24) | Moderate | ||
| Global improvement (follow-up: mean 42 weeks) | 4 (7.1) | Randomized trials | Seriousb | Not serious | Not serious | Seriousd | None | 795 (5.5) | 0.25 (−0.44 to 0.93) | Low | ||
aSMD: standardized mean difference.
bMost of the studies had a high frequency of other bias.
cLarge heterogeneity between studies (I2>50%).
d95% CI includes the possible benefits from both control and digital health interventions.