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Table 2 Example of an evidence profile summary of findings given to the evaluators for them to grade in the pilot study. Example question: Should depressed patients in primary care be treated with SSRIs rather than tricyclics?

From: Systems for grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations II: Pilot study of a new system

Outcome

SSRI

tricyclics

Effect

Quality

Relative importance

   

Relative (95% CI)

NNT/NNH

  

Depression Severity

5044 patients

4510 patients

WMD 0.034 (-0.007 to 0.075)

No difference

  

Transient side effects

1948/7032 (28%)

2072/6334 (33%)

RRR 13% (5% to 20%)

20

  

Poisoning fatalities*

1/100,000 per year of treatment

58/100,000 per year of treatment

RRR 98%

1754

  
  1. * Uncertainty about baseline risk: Fatality data may be influenced by which pills are given to whom, and it is uncertain if changing antidepressant would deter suicide attempts