Review Article

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy, Cost-Effectiveness, and Safety of Selected Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Neck and Low-Back Pain

Table 1

Risk of bias assessment of RCTs of all interventions for low-back pain and neck pain (total of 131 RCTs).

Quality components studies%

Adequate method of randomization5743.5%
Adequate method of allocation concealment4131.3%
Similarity at baseline regarding the most important prognostic indicators8967.9%
Appropriate patient blinding to the intervention3022.9%
Appropriate care provider blinding to the intervention43.1%
Appropriate outcome assessor blinding to the intervention6650.4%
Similar or no cointerventions between-groups4030.5%
Acceptable compliance in all groups5340.5%
Described and acceptable drop-out rates9975.6%
Similarity of timing of the outcome assessment in all groups11890.1%
Inclusion of an intention-to-treat analysis5745.5%
Absence of selective outcome reporting7859.5%
Absence of other potential bias75.3%

Total risk of bias scores (max 13); median (IQR)64–7