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Table 1 Study and intervention characteristics, by study design

From: Adding non-randomised studies to a Cochrane review brings complementary information for healthcare stakeholders: an augmented systematic review and meta-analysis

 

Studies in Cochrane review

Newly added studies

RCT

QRCT

CBA*

CBA

BA

ITS

XS

N = 15

N = 1

N = 4

N = 7

N = 22

N = 6

N = 2

Study characteristics:

Publication year, mean (SD)

2004.0 (5.3)

2001

2004.8 (4.1)

2003.9 (6.1)

2002.8 (5.7)

2009.8 (4.0)

2006.5 (6.4)

Region, n (%)

 Europe

4 (26.7 %)

Denmark

1 (25.0 %)

0

9 (40.9 %)

3 (50.0 %)

Sweden

 North America

8 (53.3 %)

-

2 (50.0 %)

4 (57.1 %)

6 (27.3 %)

1 (16.7 %)

0

 Other

3 (20.0 %)

-

1 (25.0 %)

3 (42.9 %)

7 (31.8 %)

2 (33.3 %)

Brazil

Location of care, n (%)

 Outpatient carea

3 (20.0 %)

-

0

2 (28.6 %)

9 (40.9 %)

3 (50.0 %)

0

 Community-based careb

6 (40.0 %)

1

3 (75.0 %)

3 (42.9 %)

10 (45.5 %)

1(16.7 %)

2 (100 %)

 Mixed

6 (40.0 %)

-

1 (25.0 %)

2 (28.6 %)

3 (13.6 %)

2 (33.3 %)

0

Recruitment pool, n (%)

 General population

0

-

0

0

2 (9.1 %)

3 (50.0 %)

1 (50 %)

 Insurance clients

2 (13.3 %)

-

3 (75.0 %)

2 (28.6 %)

1 (4.5 %)

1 (16.7 %)

0

 PCP/Pharmacy

5 (33.3 %)

1

1 (25.0 %)

2 (28.6 %)

7 (31.8 %)

0

1 (50 %)

 Outpatientsc

3 (20.0 %)

-

0

2 (28.6 %)

8 (36.3 %)

2 (33.3)

0

 Inpatients

3 (20.0 %)

-

0

0

0

0

0

 Multisector

2 (13.3 %)

-

0

1 (14.3 %)

4 (18.2 %)

0

0

Patients, mean (SD)

157.7 (153.1)

413

19742 (34137.3)

683.0 (1157.5)

347.4 (725.2)

32553 (16363.9)

330.5 (24.7)

Median

96

-

3717

239.5

100.0

32553

330.5

Age, mean (SD)

43.0 (6.3)

40.6

34.0 (3.6)

42.3 (5.4)

42.2 (6.8)

nr

48.5

Women, mean % (SD)

61.3 (14.7)

56.2 %

52.8 (10.6)

71.8 (4.5)

66.6 (11.1)

nr

55.5 (2.3)

Asthma severity, n (%)

 Mild-moderate

1 (6.7 %)

-

0

0

7 (31.8 %)

0

1 (50 %)

 Moderate-severe

11 (73.3 %)

1

0

4 (57.1 %)

10 (45.5 %)

0

0

 Not reported

3 (20.0 %)

-

4 (100.0 %)

3 (42.9 %)

5 (22.7 %)

6 (100 %)

1 (50 %)

FEV1, mean (SD)

64.6 (20.9)

nr

nr

nr

79.4 (10.4)

nr

nr

ICS use, mean % (SD)

73.8 (32.0)

nr

nr

74.4 (26.5)

52.0 (30.3)

52.8 (36.4)

44.7 %

Intervention characteristics:

 Number of intervention components, mean (SD)

8.5 (2.5)

9

7.8 (2.5)

7.1 (1.2)

6.7 (2.0)

10.0 (2.1)

7

 Comprehensive intervention (≥8 components), n (%)

8 (53.3 %)

1

2 (50.0 %)

3 (42.9 %)

5 (22.7 %)

5 (71.4 %)

0

Main component, n (%)

 Educational

7 (46.7 %)

-

1 (25.0 %)

6 (85.7 %)

14(63.6 %)

0

1 (50 %)

 Org_healthcare

2 (13.3 %)

-

2 (50.0 %)

1 (14.3 %

6 (27.3 %)

5 (71.4 %)

1 (50 %)

 Org_patient

1 (6.7 %)

1

0

0

0

0

0

 Multicomponent

5 (33.3 %)

-

1 (25.0 %)

0

2 (9.1 %)

1 (16.7 %)

0

Duration of intervention (months), mean (SD)

7.5 (3.2)

12

22.5 (21.0)

12.5 (12.6)

13.1 (8.0)

ongoing

4

  1. RCT randomised controlled trial, QRCT quasi-randomised controlled trial, CBA* controlled before-after study (with at least two intervention and two control sites), CBA controlled before-after study, ITS interrupted-times-series study, BA before-after study (without external control group), XS cross-sectional study (with concurrent measurement of intervention exposure and outcomes), PCP primary care practice, SD standard deviation, FEV1 forced expiratory volume in 1 s (% predicted), ICS inhaled corticosteroids, Org organisational, nr not reported
  2. aOutpatient care: ambulatory care provided by specialised clinic or hospital
  3. bCommunity-based care: care provided at a primary care practice, pharmacy or health unit
  4. cOutpatients: patients seen by specialised clinic or outpatient hospital department