BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To identify the strategies used to deal with the clinical heterogeneity of interventions and multiple outcome measures used in Cochrane reviews on physiotherapy and occupational therapy. METHODS: A search for systematic reviews on physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the Cochrane Library was performed. Data on the method of categorization of interventions, on measures, and on the method of data synthesis were systematically extracted. RESULTS: 52 reviews were identified. In 22 (42%) reviews only one index intervention was evaluated, in the other 30 reviews index interventions were categorized. A large diversity in the number and type of outcome measures was found (median 6.5, range 1-23). In 48% of the reviews one or more primary outcome measures were defined. In 52% of the reviews no quantitative data synthesis was performed, whereas five different methods for qualitative data synthesis were applied in 11 reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Limitation to a few outcome measures and explicit procedures for the categorization of interventions might increase the transparency and reproducibility of systematic reviews on physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Qualitative data synthesis is not often applied, although it is a useful tool to summarize results if a quantitative synthesis is not appropriate. International consensus on a method for qualitative synthesis is clearly needed.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To identify the strategies used to deal with the clinical heterogeneity of interventions and multiple outcome measures used in Cochrane reviews on physiotherapy and occupational therapy. METHODS: A search for systematic reviews on physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the Cochrane Library was performed. Data on the method of categorization of interventions, on measures, and on the method of data synthesis were systematically extracted. RESULTS: 52 reviews were identified. In 22 (42%) reviews only one index intervention was evaluated, in the other 30 reviews index interventions were categorized. A large diversity in the number and type of outcome measures was found (median 6.5, range 1-23). In 48% of the reviews one or more primary outcome measures were defined. In 52% of the reviews no quantitative data synthesis was performed, whereas five different methods for qualitative data synthesis were applied in 11 reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Limitation to a few outcome measures and explicit procedures for the categorization of interventions might increase the transparency and reproducibility of systematic reviews on physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Qualitative data synthesis is not often applied, although it is a useful tool to summarize results if a quantitative synthesis is not appropriate. International consensus on a method for qualitative synthesis is clearly needed.
Authors: Cecilie Røe; Erik Bautz-Holter; Nada Andelic; Helene Lundgaard Søberg; Boya Nugraha; Christoph Gutenbrunner; Andrea Boekel; Marit Kirkevold; Grace Engen; Juan Lu Journal: Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl Date: 2022-04-13
Authors: Emalie Hurkmans; Florus J van der Giesen; Thea Pm Vliet Vlieland; Jan Schoones; E C H M Van den Ende Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2009-10-07
Authors: Joel J Gagnier; Hal Morgenstern; Doug G Altman; Jesse Berlin; Stephanie Chang; Peter McCulloch; Xin Sun; David Moher Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2013-08-30 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: Joel J Gagnier; David Moher; Heather Boon; Joseph Beyene; Claire Bombardier Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2012-07-30 Impact factor: 4.615