Journal of clinical epidemiology
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Review Meta Analysis
Methodological quality and homogeneity influenced agreement between randomized trials and nonrandomized studies of the same intervention for back pain.
To determine the influence of methodological quality and homogeneity on the agreement between pairs of randomized trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies (NRSs) of the same interventions for low-back problems. Homogeneity was assessed regarding settings, population, interventions, and outcomes. ⋯ Pairs of low-quality studies disagreed more than pairs where at least one study was of high quality. However, pairs with similar settings, population, interventions, and outcomes showed higher agreement than pairs that were not as homogeneous.
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Meta Analysis
Trial methodology and patient characteristics did not influence the size of placebo effects on pain.
To determine whether trial-design, patient-type, or placebo-type factors influence the size of the placebo analgesic effect in clinical trials. ⋯ This study confirms the findings of previous researchers that, at present, the evidence for large placebo analgesic effects in clinical trials is lacking. Importantly, this analysis also establishes that larger placebo effects are not associated with particular aspects of the trial methodology, patient, or placebo type.
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To determine the accuracy of clinical features in diagnosing vertebral fracture in low back pain patients and assess the psychometric properties of the Quality Assessment of Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy Included in Systematic Reviews (QUADAS) scale. ⋯ Five clinical features were identified that can be used to screen for vertebral fracture. The psychometric properties of the QUADAS scale raise concerns about its use to rate the quality of low back pain diagnosis studies.
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Multicenter Study
Questionnaire order significantly increased response to a postal survey sent to primary care physicians.
Primary care physicians are increasingly being asked to participate in postal surveys. Difficulties in achieving adequate response rates among physicians have been reported. We investigated the effect of two low-cost interventions on response to a primary care physician postal questionnaire. ⋯ Ordering questionnaires with general questions first can significantly increase response rates, whereas precontact can achieve a modest increase. These strategies may enhance response while adding little to the cost of a physician survey.
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To develop indexes of multimorbidity, based on self-reported data, to predict mortality, health service use, help with activities of daily living (ADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older women. ⋯ These multimorbidity indexes predict mortality, health service use, help with ADL, and HRQOL in older women. The indexes could be used as covariates in research with weighted scores having a better chance of discriminating between patient groups than unweighted scores.