COCHRANE ROB 2 · 偏誤風險評讀
NPQ 頸痛量表(療程結束 T1)
← 回到「頸椎退化症」的圖表
總體判斷 OVERALL?Some concerns(有些疑慮)
Domain 與 overall 判斷由程式依 Cochrane RoB 2 官方演算法計算;AI 只負責回答下方各訊號問題。符號:+ 低風險、? 有些疑慮、- 高風險(不只靠顏色)。
風險偏誤紅綠燈
- +Domain 1 隨機化過程:Low(低風險)
- +Domain 2 偏離預定介入:Low(低風險)
- +Domain 3 缺失結局資料:Low(低風險)
- +Domain 4 結局測量:Low(低風險)
- ?Domain 5 選擇性報告:Some concerns(有些疑慮)
- ?總體(Overall):Some concerns(有些疑慮)
中文摘要(給一般讀者)
這篇論文的偏誤風險與 limitation
本研究為個體隨機的平行組試驗(117 人:真針灸 59 vs 假針灸 58,兩組皆加紅外線),主要結局取療程結束時(T1)NPQ 頸痛量表的組間比較。隨機化:以 PEMS 3.1 軟體產生隨機序列、不透光信封依序隱匿分配、基線均衡,偏誤風險低。偏離介入(指派效果):受試者以非穴位假針灸盲化(施針者未盲屬針灸試驗固有限制),未見試驗情境所致偏離,且採排除缺失資料的 mITT 分析(分析 57/55),風險低。缺失資料:退出率僅 4.27%、原因(暈針、追蹤不便)與結局無關且兩組均衡,風險低。結局測量:NPQ 為適當的頸痛效度量表、兩組量測一致,病人自填結局在假針灸盲化下判斷未受知情影響,風險低。選擇性報告:兩量表全部時間點與多項 GLM 分析皆完整報告,惟缺可核對的事前分析計畫(5.1 NI),存些許疑慮。整體而言本結局的偏誤傾向偏低,主要不確定性來自缺乏事前統計分析計畫佐證及未做正式盲化成功測試。
詳細評讀(給專業讀者)
Domain 1:隨機化過程 — 判斷:Low
偏誤來源:隨機分組的過程——分配序列是否隨機產生、是否隱蔽到分組為止、基線(第一期開始時)是否平衡。
1.1 Was the allocation sequence random?
分配序列是否隨機產生?
- 回答:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:assigned by a simple randomizing method to two groups through the following procedure: using PEMS 3.1 software to produce a sequence number and grouping address in a randomizing card以簡單隨機法分為兩組,程序如下:用 PEMS 3.1 軟體產生序號與分組位址、製成隨機卡。
- 理由:以 PEMS 3.1 統計軟體產生隨機序號分組,屬電腦產生的隨機成分,序列確為隨機。
1.2 Was the allocation sequence concealed until participants were enrolled and assigned to interventions?
分配是否隱蔽到分組為止?
- 回答:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:which was sealed in an opaque envelope and distributed to the testees correspondingly with their sequence of entry; the envelope was opened just before starting the trial and the holder was assigned to the group designated in the card隨機卡密封於不透光信封中,依受試者進入順序發放;信封在試驗開始前才拆開、持有者被分到卡片所指定的組別。
- 理由:採不透光、依納入順序發放、開始前才拆封的信封法隱匿分配,符合信封隱匿的最低標準;雖未載明是否連號、防拆封條等細節,仍可合理判斷分配序列在納入前已被隱匿,故 PY。
1.3 Did baseline differences between intervention groups suggest a problem with the randomization process?
(第一期開始時)基線差異是否暗示隨機化有問題?
- 回答:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:the baseline data of age, sex, duration of illness and syndrome type in the two groups were analyzed, and the results showed that the differences between groups were insignificant (P>0.05)兩組在年齡、性別、病程與證型的基線資料經分析,組間差異均不顯著(P>0.05)。
- 理由:年齡、性別、病程、證型等基線特徵組間皆無顯著差異,兩組人數(59 vs 58)相當,未見暗示隨機出問題的失衡。
Domain 2:偏離預定介入 — 判斷:Low
偏誤來源:實際執行時偏離預定的介入——盲性如何、是否依「隨機分到的組別」分析(ITT)。
2.1 Were participants aware of their assigned intervention during the trial?
參與者是否(在每一期)知道自己的分組?
- 回答:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Patients in the control group were treated with sham acupuncture ... Non-acupoint shallow needling is a typical method of sham acupuncture, and is considered to have some effects in stopping pain ... reflecting its good placebo effect對照組接受假針灸治療……非穴位淺刺是典型的假針灸方法,被認為有一定止痛效果……反映其良好的安慰劑效應。
- 理由:對照組採非穴位淺刺假針灸作安慰對照,設計意在使受試者無法辨別真假針;納入條件要求近 6 個月未接受過針灸(多為針灸初治者),且對照組亦出現分數下降的安慰劑效應,判斷受試者大致未察覺自己的分組,故 PN(惟未做正式盲化成功測試)。
2.2 Were carers and people delivering the interventions aware of participants' assigned intervention during the trial?
照護/執行者是否(在每一期)知道分組?
- 回答:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:The normal acupuncture applied on patients in the treatment group was operated as follows ... Patients in the control group were treated with sham acupuncture, which was operated as follows ... needle was inserted superficially ... without any operation治療組施以正常針灸、操作如上述……對照組施以假針灸、操作如下……針淺刺入僅達皮下……不作任何行針操作。
- 理由:真針(取穴、達肌層、行針得氣、0.3mm 針)與假針(非穴位、僅達皮下、不行針、0.22mm 針)操作明顯不同,施針者必然知道受試者分組,故施治者未盲,答 Y。
2.3 Were there deviations from the intended intervention that arose because of the trial context?
是否因試驗情境造成偏離?
- 回答:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:All patients were treated with infrared radiation plus acupuncture (normal or sham) ... The treatment, either normal or sham acupuncture, was implemented once every other day, and in total, 9 times (in 18 days) constituted one therapeutic course所有患者皆接受紅外線照射加針灸(真或假)……不論真假針灸皆隔日一次、共 9 次(18 天)為一療程。
- 理由:兩組均採統一介入方案(紅外線+針灸),受試者已盲化,未見任何因試驗情境而生、且不符合方案的偏離之證據;短療程(18 天)內未報告非方案介入或不遵從,故 PN。
2.4 Were these deviations likely to have affected the outcome?
這些偏離是否可能影響結局?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 2.3 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
2.5 Were these deviations from intended intervention balanced between groups?
這些偏離在兩組間是否平衡?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 2.4 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
2.6 Was an appropriate analysis used to estimate the effect of assignment to intervention?
是否用了適當分析(ITT)?
- 回答:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:Of all the 117 patients enrolled, 2 in the treatment group and 3 in the control group dropped out ... The drop-out rate was 4.27%全部 117 名納入者中,治療組 2 人、對照組 3 人退出……退出率為 4.27%。
- 理由:分析依隨機分組進行(治療組 57、對照組 55,見 Table 2),僅排除 5 名缺結局資料的退出者,屬排除缺失結局資料的修正型意向治療(mITT/可用個案)分析,官方指引視此為適當分析,故 PY。
2.7 Was there potential for a substantial impact (on the result) of the failure to analyse participants in the group to which they were randomized?
未依隨機分組分析,是否可能對結果造成重大影響?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 2.6 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
Domain 3:缺失結局資料 — 判斷:Low
偏誤來源:結局資料缺失——是否幾乎所有人都有資料、缺失是否可能與病情(結局真實值)相關。
3.1 Were data for this outcome available for all, or nearly all, participants randomized?
是否幾乎所有受試者都有此結局的資料?
- 回答:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Of all the 117 patients enrolled, 2 in the treatment group and 3 in the control group dropped out, 2 of them (1 in each group) due to acupuncture fainting, and the others for inconvenience in follow-up time planning. The drop-out rate was 4.27%全部 117 名納入者中,治療組 2 人、對照組 3 人退出,其中 2 人(每組各 1 人)因暈針、其餘因追蹤時間安排不便。退出率為 4.27%。
- 理由:112/117(95.7%)受試者有結局資料,退出率僅 4.27%;對連續型結局而言 ≥95% 通常足夠,可視為幾乎所有受試者都有資料,故 Y。
3.2 Is there evidence that the result was not biased by missing outcome data?
是否有證據顯示結果未受缺失資料偏誤?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 3.1 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
3.3 Could missingness in the outcome depend on its true value?
缺失是否可能取決於結局真實值?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 3.2 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
3.4 Is it likely that missingness in the outcome depended on its true value?
缺失是否很可能取決於結局真實值?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 3.3 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
Domain 4:結局測量 — 判斷:Low
偏誤來源:結局的測量——測量工具是否恰當、評估者是否盲化、評估是否可能受分組知情影響。
4.1 Was the method of measuring the outcome inappropriate?
結局測量方法是否不適當?
- 回答:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:The efficacy of treatment was assessed by adopting the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). NPQ is a scale for denoting the quality of life of patients with neck pain療效以 Northwick Park 頸痛問卷(NPQ)與視覺類比量表(VAS)評估。NPQ 是評估頸痛患者生活品質的量表。
- 理由:NPQ 為國際公認、專為頸痛設計並廣泛使用的效度量表,對頸痛療效有敏感度,量測方法適當,故 N(非不當)。
4.2 Could measurement or ascertainment of the outcome have differed between intervention groups?
(每一序列內)結局測量是否可能因介入而異?
- 回答:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:the scores obtained at 4 time points, i.e. before treatment (T0), immediately after ending treatment (T1), the end of the 1st month and the 3rd month (T2 and T3) of follow-up, were analyzed在 4 個時間點(治療前 T0、療程結束後即時 T1、追蹤第 1 個月與第 3 個月 T2、T3)取得的分數皆納入分析。
- 理由:兩組皆使用相同的 NPQ 量表、在相同時間點量測,量測方法無組間差異,故 PN。
4.3 Were outcome assessors aware of the intervention received by study participants?
結局評估者是否知道受試者接受的介入?
- 回答:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Patients in the control group were treated with sham acupuncture ... reflecting its good placebo effect對照組接受假針灸治療……反映其良好的安慰劑效應。
- 理由:NPQ 為病人自填結局,評估者即受試者本人;本試驗以非穴位淺刺假針灸盲化受試者、且多為針灸初治者,判斷受試者(評估者)大致未察覺分組,故 PN(惟未報告正式盲化測試)。
4.4 Could assessment of the outcome have been influenced by knowledge of intervention received?
結局評估是否可能受介入知情影響?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 4.3 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
4.5 Is it likely that assessment of the outcome was influenced by knowledge of intervention received?
結局評估是否很可能受介入知情影響?
- 回答:不需評估(NA)
- 原因:條件題:依 4.4 的答案,本題依 RoB 2 官方路由不需評估(NA)。
Domain 5:選擇性報告 — 判斷:Some concerns
偏誤來源:選擇性報告結果——是否依事前訂定的分析計畫分析、有無從多個結果中挑選有利者報告(交叉另含:是否因偵測到殘留而只報第一期)。
5.1 Were the data that produced this result analysed in accordance with a pre-specified analysis plan that was finalized before unblinded outcome data were available for analysis?
是否依事前訂定(取得未盲化資料前定版)的分析計畫分析?
- 回答:資訊不足(No information — 原文未提供足以判斷的資訊)
- 原文引述:registered with the Clinical Trial Registration Center of China, registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-00000138已於中國臨床試驗註冊中心註冊,註冊號 ChiCTR-TRC-00000138。
- 理由:雖有臨床試驗註冊號,但論文未提供可核對的事前統計分析計畫,無法確認分析是否在解盲前依既定計畫定案,故 NI。
5.2 Is the numerical result being assessed likely to have been selected, on the basis of the results, from multiple eligible outcome measurements (e.g. scales, definitions, time points) within the outcome domain?
此數值結果是否可能依結果,從多個量表/定義/時間點中選出?
- 回答:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:the absolute values of scores obtained at the 4 time points from patients with different syndrome types are listed in Table 2不同證型患者在 4 個時間點取得的分數絕對值列於 Table 2。
- 理由:NPQ 與 VAS 兩量表在全部 4 個時間點的組間結果皆完整報告於 Table 2,未見僅擇優呈現某一量表或時間點的跡象,故 PN。
5.3 Is the numerical result being assessed likely to have been selected, on the basis of the results, from multiple eligible analyses of the data?
此數值結果是否可能依結果,從多種分析中選出?
- 回答:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:The results of the within-subjects effects test and within-subjects contrasts test are listed in Table 3受試者內效應檢定與受試者內對比檢定的結果列於 Table 3。
- 理由:GLM 之時間、時間×證型、時間×組別、時間×證型×組別等多個分析(含線性與二次對比)的 F 值與 P 值皆完整列於 Table 3,包含不顯著項,未見依結果擇優報告單一分析,故 PN。