COCHRANE ROB 2 · 偏誤風險評讀
困擾VAS(8週組間)
← 回到「下背痛」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:Some concerns(有些疑慮)
- +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:Low(低風險)
- ?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
本篇為多中心平行、隨機、病人與評估者設盲、非穿透假針對照試驗,評讀主要結局為困擾 VAS 於 8 週的組間差異(效果=指派/ITT)。隨機面:電腦分層區塊+中央分配、隨機碼由不接觸病人者保管,隱匿充分;僅次要指標 ODI 基線失衡,主要結局基線無差異,隨機風險低。盲性面:非穿透假針使病人維持盲性(盲性指數證實),但施治的韓醫師無法設盲、知道分組。偏離介入面:療程與共病介入標準化、兩組一致,但採 PP 分析而非 ITT,指派效果的估計未用意向治療(2.6=N);不過流失僅約 11%、兩組相近、原因多與結局無關,未依 ITT 不太可能大幅改變結果。缺失資料面:主要終點約 89–90% 有資料、兩組流失接近、輔以混合模型,偏誤風險低。結局測量面:VAS 為已驗證的適當工具、兩組量測方式一致、病人(=評估者)維持盲性,風險低。選擇性報告面:有事先發表的試驗計畫書、主要結局與分析事前明訂,風險低。整體而言,本結局的偏誤主要來自 Domain 2(施治者未盲+PP 而非 ITT),其餘面向風險偏低。
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:The patients were randomized per center and allocated to 1 of the 2 groups using a block randomization by computer generation. ... stratified block randomization was used.病人依中心隨機化,以電腦產生的區塊隨機法分配到兩組之一。……採用分層區塊隨機化。
- 理由:明確描述以電腦產生的分層區塊隨機序列,屬適當的隨機方法,故答 Y。
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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:participants were randomized into 2 groups (real acupuncture and sham acupuncture) by central allocation. ... The random code was generated by the medical statistician and was kept by a clinician who did not contact patients.受試者以中央分配方式隨機分成兩組(真針與假針)。……隨機碼由醫學統計師產生,並由一位不接觸病人的臨床醫師保管。
- 理由:採中央分配、隨機碼由不接觸病人的人員保管,分配在納入前已充分隱匿,故答 Y。
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:There were no baseline differences observed between the 2 groups, except in the Oswestry Disability Index. ... VAS for bothersomeness ... 6.44 ± 1.50 ... 6.32 ± 1.14 ... 0.615.除 Oswestry 失能指數外,兩組基線並無差異。主要結局的困擾 VAS 基線兩組相近(6.44 vs 6.32,P=0.615)。
- 理由:在眾多基線變項中僅次要指標 ODI 有顯著差異(P=0.040),主要結局困擾 VAS 基線兩組無差異;以電腦分層區塊+中央分配的隨機法而言,單一次要變項失衡屬偶發、不足以暗示隨機出問題,故答 PN。
Domain 2:偏離預定介入 — 判斷:Some concerns
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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Real acupuncture group; 0.07 (95% CI: -0.10, 0.24), blinded. Sham acupuncture group; -0.23 (95% CI: -0.39, -0.08), blinded. ... the blinding of this research was maintained真針組盲性指數 0.07(95% CI −0.10, 0.24),達盲;假針組 −0.23(95% CI −0.39, −0.08),達盲。……本研究的盲性得以維持。
- 理由:使用非穿透假針,療程結束時的盲性指數顯示兩組病人皆維持盲性、無法可靠辨認所屬分組,故受試者不知情,答 N。
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:it could not be a practitioner blind trial because of distinct characteristics of acupuncture. Thus, this study was conducted as a patient-assessor blinded study. This could be another bias because practitioners (8 KMDs delivered the treatment) have the knowledge of real acupuncture group.因針灸的特性無法對施治者設盲,故本研究採病人與評估者設盲設計。此為另一潛在偏誤,因為施治的 8 位韓醫師知道誰是真針組。
- 理由:論文明言施治的韓醫師無法設盲、知道分組,故照顧者/施治者知情,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:The treatment was carried out using the same technique and protocol as real acupuncture, except for the use of a semi-blunt needle on nonacupuncture points without penetration. ... Participants were notified that they would be dropped from the study if they received any additional therapy, such as analgesics or physical treatments, before the primary end point of 8 weeks.假針除使用半鈍針、於非穴位不穿透外,其餘技術與流程與真針相同。……受試者被告知若在 8 週主要終點前接受任何額外治療(如止痛藥或物理治療)將被剔除。
- 理由:兩組療程標準化、共病介入(運動手冊)一致並禁止額外治療,未見因試驗情境而生、偏離常規照護的差別偏離,故答 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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Per protocol (PP) analysis included all participants randomized and followed up until the last follow-up point. ... Analyses included 116 participants for the primary and secondary outcome採 per-protocol(PP)分析,僅納入完成隨訪至最後追蹤點者;主要與次要結局分析納入 116 人(隨機 130 人中)。
- 理由:評估的是指派效果(ITT),但本研究以 PP 分析、排除了未完成隨訪者,未採意向治療分析,故答 N。
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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Twelve patients dropped out during the treatment and 1 patient was eliminated after finishing all the treatments because of pregnancy. ... Analyses included 116 participants治療期間 12 人退出、1 人因懷孕於完成治療後被剔除;分析納入 116 人。
- 理由:PP 排除的僅約 11%(130→116),且兩組流失數接近(真針 8、假針 6)、退出原因多與結局無關,未依 ITT 分析不太可能大幅改變結果,故答 PN。
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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Measurements were obtained for 90% of the sample at 2 months (n = 117) ... Analyses included 116 participants for the primary and secondary outcome at 2, 3, and 6 months.2 個月(主要終點)時取得 90% 樣本的量測(n=117),主要與次要結局分析納入 116 人。
- 理由:主要終點(8 週=2 個月)時 130 位隨機受試者中約 89–90% 有結局資料,約 11% 缺失,未達「幾乎所有人」,故答 PN。
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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:Lost to 2-month follow up (n=7) ... Lost to 2-month follow up (n=6) ... A mixed-model approach of repeated-measures 2-factor analysis was used真針組 2 個月流失 7 人、假針組流失 6 人;並使用重複測量二因子混合模型分析。
- 理由:兩組缺失比例接近、退出原因多屬個人/後勤因素,且另以可利用全部觀測值的混合模型分析佐證,結果不太可能被缺失資料嚴重偏誤,故答 PY。
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 primary outcome measure was VAS for bothersomeness of LBP. ... The patients were asked to mark, on a 10 cm VAS ... the average degree of bothersomeness due to LBP ... This measurement has substantial validity.主要結局為下背痛困擾程度 VAS;病人在 10 cm VAS 上標記最近一週因下背痛之平均困擾程度,此量測具實質效度。
- 理由:10 cm VAS 困擾量表為已驗證、對慢性下背痛適當的量測工具,測量方法並無不當,故答 N。
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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Pain intensity was measured in the same way as VAS for bothersomeness. ... Bothersomeness of LBP was measured at weeks 0, 6, 8, 12, and 24.所有 VAS 皆以相同方式量測;困擾程度於第 0、6、8、12、24 週測量。
- 理由:兩組使用相同的 VAS 量測方式與時間點,測量方式不會因組別而異,故答 N。
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:this study was conducted as a patient-assessor blinded study ... Real acupuncture group; 0.07 (95% CI: -0.10, 0.24), blinded. Sham acupuncture group; -0.23 (95% CI: -0.39, -0.08), blinded.本研究採病人與評估者設盲;盲性指數顯示真針組(0.07)與假針組(−0.23)皆達盲。
- 理由:主要結局為病人自填,故評估者即病人本人;病人採設盲設計且療末盲性指數證實維持盲性,評估者應不知情,故答 PN。
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:Low
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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:The exact procedures of this clinical trial have been published. ... Primary outcome was change of visual analogue scale (VAS) score for bothersomeness of cLBP.本臨床試驗的確切流程已發表(前導試驗計畫書);主要結局為慢性下背痛困擾程度 VAS 分數的變化。
- 理由:有事先發表的試驗計畫書(BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2010),主要結局與量測時間點皆事前明訂,分析大致依既定計畫進行,故答 PY。
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 primary outcome measure was VAS for bothersomeness of LBP. ... The primary end point was the 8-week follow-up (i.e., 2 wk after finishing all of the treatments).主要結局量測為困擾 VAS,主要終點為 8 週追蹤(療程結束後 2 週)。
- 理由:主要結局與主要終點(8 週)事前單一明訂,並非從多個量表/時間點中挑選有利者呈現,故答 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:Two-sample t tests were used for outcome measurements at baseline and 8 weeks for the comparison between 2 groups.以兩樣本 t 檢定比較兩組於基線與 8 週的結局量測。
- 理由:主要終點的組間比較採事前指定的兩樣本 t 檢定,無跡象顯示結果係自多種分析中挑選而來,故答 PN。