Summary of studies included in sensitivity analysis
| Number of comparisons | Number of similar results | Number better in RCT | Number worse in RCT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selection bias: | ||||
| Low risk | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| No imbalance | 22 | 19 | 1 | 2 |
| Adjusted results | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Partially controlled | 18 | 15 | 2 | 1 |
| Poorly controlled | 33 | 30 | 3 | — |
| Detection bias: | ||||
| Low risk* | 78 | 66 | 8 | 3 |
| Partially met, similarly measured | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| High risk | 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Exclusion bias: | ||||
| No losses to follow up | 38 | 32 | 4 | 2 |
| 1 person to 20% lost to follow up | 33 | 30 | 2 | 1 |
| > 20% loss to follow up | 11 | 10 | — | 1 |
| Unclear | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Reasons for non-participation: | ||||
| Refused | 27 | 18 | 7 | 2 |
| Refused because of preference | 23 | 20 | 1 | 2 |
| RCT versus preference trial | 16 | 15 | — | 1 |
| Not invited | 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Treated by non-participating clinicians | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Different skills required for treatment: | ||||
| Surgery and procedures | 28 | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| Drug treatment | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 |
| Radiology | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Usual care | 9 | 8 | 1 | — |
| Counselling and education | 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Watchful waiting | 7 | 6 | — | 1 |
| Different clinical area: | ||||
| Oncology | 28 | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| Obstetrics and gynaecology | 14 | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| Cardiology | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Other internal medicine | 11 | 9 | 2 | — |
| Psychology and drug misuse | 9 | 9 | — | — |
| Paediatrics | 8 | 7 | — | 1 |
| Respiration | 2 | 2 | — | — |
RCT=randomised controlled trial.
↵* Outcomes were measured in same way.