COCHRANE ROB 2 · 偏誤風險評讀
Chalder 生理疲倦分數
← 回到「疲倦」的圖表
總體判斷 OVERALL-High(高風險)
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:High(高風險)
- -Domain 2 偏離預定介入:High(高風險)
- ?Domain 3 缺失結局資料:Some concerns(有些疑慮)
- +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):High(高風險)
中文摘要(給一般讀者)
這篇論文的偏誤風險與 limitation
本試驗名為排列區組隨機化,實則依固定 ECEC 交替、按受試者報到時間先後分組,屬可預測的非隨機分派且無分配隱匿,領域一存有疑慮。受試者經不穿透假針成功盲化(受試者自填的疲倦結果其評估者即盲化的受試者,領域四低風險);但施針者未盲,惟無證據顯示因此破壞方案落實。最關鍵的問題在分析:作者僅納入完成≥6 次療程的 99 名 completers,非意向治療分析,且相對 127 名參與者排除約 22%(相對 137 名隨機化者更達 28%),此不當分析足以對「分派效應」結果造成實質影響,領域二為高風險。缺失結果資料約二至三成、未做校正或敏感度分析,且慢性疲勞屬主觀症狀、退出可能與疲倦真值相關,領域三亦有疑慮至高風險。整體而言,本結果對針灸「分派效應」的估計風險偏高。
詳細評讀(給專業讀者)
Domain 1:隨機化過程 — 判斷:High
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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Permuted-block randomization was employed to allocate participants, with the random sampling sequence following the manner of ECEC (E = experimental, and C = control); that is, assignment of participants to groups followed a chronological sequence.採用排列區組隨機化分配受試者,隨機抽樣序列依照 ECEC(E=實驗組、C=對照組)的方式進行;亦即受試者依時間先後(chronological)順序分組。
- 理由:雖名為「排列區組隨機化」,但作者明言分配序列固定依 ECEC 交替、依受試者報到的時間先後分組,本質上是交替分派(alternation),屬系統性、非隨機的方法(RoB 2 明列 alternation 為非隨機)。序列無真正隨機成分且可預測,故答 PN。
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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:the random sampling sequence following the manner of ECEC ... assignment of participants to groups followed a chronological sequence. ... Of the 137 voluntary participants who were randomly assigned either to the EG (n = 68) or to the concurrent CG (n = 69)隨機抽樣序列依照 ECEC 的方式進行……受試者依時間先後順序分組。……137 名自願受試者被隨機分配至實驗組(n=68)或同期對照組(n=69)。
- 理由:分配採固定 ECEC 交替且依報到先後決定,招募者只要知道前一位的組別即可推知下一位的分派,等同無分配隱匿;文中亦無任何中央隨機化、密封不透光信封或藥品容器等隱匿措施的描述。可預測的交替序列無法隱匿,故答 PN。
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:No significant differences in demographic characteristics existed between participants in the EG and the CG. ... aNo significant difference exists between the two groups for all demographic variables.實驗組與對照組之人口學特徵無顯著差異。……兩組所有人口學變項皆無顯著差異。
- 理由:表 2 顯示兩組年齡、性別、教育、就業、既往針灸經驗等基線特徵相近、無顯著差異,基線疲倦分數(T0)亦相當(生理疲倦 EG 30.67 vs CG 29.17)。未見指向隨機化問題的失衡,故答 PN。惟基線僅報告 99 名完成者、非全部隨機化者,已在本欄與領域層級判斷中納入考量。
Domain 2:偏離預定介入 — 判斷:High
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:Through careful implementation of sham acupuncture in the control group (CG), the study blinded all participants with regard to their experimental or control status. ... single blinding was achieved in a clinical trial in which participants in both the EG and CG had apparently the same experience藉由在對照組謹慎施行假針灸,本研究使所有受試者對其屬實驗組或對照組的狀態盲化。……達成單盲,實驗組與對照組受試者在治療過程中的體驗表面上相同。
- 理由:採特製不穿透假針(鈍頭、針座固定,僅有刺壓感),假針與真針外觀一致、療程完全相同,受試者無法分辨所屬組別,受試者盲化成功,故答 N(受試者不知曉分組)。
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:All the interventions were delivered by the same TCM practitioner who delivered treatment to the EG. Before the actual clinical trial, this practitioner received special training in the administration of sham acupuncture所有介入皆由同一位(亦為實驗組施治的)中醫師執行;於正式臨床試驗前,該醫師曾接受施行假針灸的特別訓練。
- 理由:真針與假針由同一位施針者執行,且其需以不同手法施行真針(含提插捻轉得氣)與假針(不穿透),施針者必然知曉每位受試者的分組;加上分配採可預測的 ECEC 交替、未隱匿,施治者顯然知曉分組,故答 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:For the EG, needle manipulation (twilling and moving the needle up and down rapidly) for enhancing the acupuncture sensation (called de qi in Chinese medicine), was performed at the beginning, middle, and end of every intervention session. ... the session flow was exactly the same in both the EG and CG.實驗組於每次療程的開始、中段與結束施行針刺手法(快速提插捻轉)以加強得氣感;對照組與實驗組的療程流程完全相同。
- 理由:兩組療程排程、地點、流程一致,介入皆依設計執行,無證據顯示因試驗情境而出現背離方案的處置(如對照組私下尋求真針灸、或施治者額外給予非方案處置)。施針者雖未盲,但未見其破壞方案落實,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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:The analysis included participants who completed six or more intervention sessions, resulting in an effective sample size of 99, with 50 and 49 in the EG and CG, respectively. The overall completion rate was 80.0%.分析僅納入完成六次或以上療程的受試者,有效樣本數為 99(實驗組 50、對照組 49);整體完成率為 80.0%。
- 理由:分析僅納入「完成≥6 次療程」的 99 人(completers),是依事後是否充分接受介入而排除受試者,屬天真的 per-protocol/as-treated 分析,並非意向治療(ITT 應以 137 名隨機化者、依原分組分析)。此為評估「分派效應」的不當分析,故答 PN。
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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Of the 137 voluntary participants who were randomly assigned either to the EG (n = 68) or to the concurrent CG (n = 69), 127 accepted the allocation ... resulting in an effective sample size of 99137 名隨機分配(實驗組 n=68、對照組 n=69)的受試者中,127 名接受分派……最終有效分析樣本為 99 名。
- 理由:相對於 127 名接受分派者,有 28 人(約 22%)因未完成≥6 次療程而被排除於分析外;相對於 137 名隨機化者更達 38 人被排除。被排除比例高、且排除理由(療程完成度)可能與療效/結果相關,足以對結果產生實質影響,故答 Y。
Domain 3:缺失結局資料 — 判斷:Some concerns
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:127 accepted the allocation and participated in the study (62 in the EG; 65 in the CG). ... The analysis included participants who completed six or more intervention sessions, resulting in an effective sample size of 99 ... The overall completion rate was 80.0%.127 名接受分派並參與研究(實驗組 62、對照組 65)……分析僅納入完成六次或以上療程者,有效樣本數為 99……整體完成率 80.0%。
- 理由:本結果僅有 99 名完成者的資料(相對 127 名參與者缺 28 人、相對 137 名隨機化者缺 38 人),缺失約 20–28%,遠超過連續型結果「約 95% 可用」的安全門檻,並非「全部或幾乎全部」皆有資料,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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:The analysis included participants who completed six or more intervention sessions ... No adverse events occurred throughout the study.分析僅納入完成六次或以上療程者……研究全程無不良事件發生。
- 理由:作者未針對缺失結果資料做任何校正方法或敏感度分析,亦未以多重插補或加權處理,無證據顯示結果未受缺失資料偏倚影響,故答 PN。
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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:The analysis included participants who completed six or more intervention sessions, resulting in an effective sample size of 99 ... The overall completion rate was 80.0%.分析僅納入完成六次或以上療程者,有效樣本數為 99……整體完成率為 80.0%。
- 理由:缺失源自受試者未完成足夠療程而退出,慢性疲勞症候群屬主觀症狀疾病,疲倦較嚴重或感受效果不佳者較可能中途退出、減少出席,缺失(是否完成)有可能與疲倦結果的真值相關,故答 PY。
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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Of the 137 voluntary participants who were randomly assigned either to the EG (n = 68) or to the concurrent CG (n = 69), 127 accepted the allocation and participated in the study (62 in the EG; 65 in the CG). ... resulting in an effective sample size of 99, with 50 and 49 in the EG and CG, respectively.137 名隨機分配者中 127 名參與(實驗組 62、對照組 65)……最終有效樣本 99(實驗組 50、對照組 49)。
- 理由:兩組分析後人數相近(50 vs 49),由參與到分析的流失比例兩組大致對稱(EG 62→50、CG 65→49),未見組間缺失比例明顯差異,亦無證據顯示退出理由因組別而異;雖缺失可能與真值相關(3.3 PY),但無證據顯示「很可能」確實依真值而缺失,故答 PN。
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:Chalder's Fatigue Scale. This scale was the primary outcome measure in the study. It is a 14-item, self-report scale producing two subscores, namely the physical and mental fatigue scores. A higher score indicates more severe symptoms.Chalder 疲倦量表為本研究的主要結果指標,為 14 題自填量表,產生生理與心理兩項分數,分數越高代表症狀越嚴重。
- 理由:Chalder 疲倦量表為慢性疲勞研究廣泛使用、具效度的標準化自填量表,量測疲倦屬適當方法,故答 N(量測方法非不當)。
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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Each participant was instructed to complete a set of questionnaires prior to and immediately after the intervention. ... questionnaires included the following measures: Chalder's Fatigue Scale.每位受試者於介入前與介入後立即填寫一組問卷……問卷含 Chalder 疲倦量表。
- 理由:兩組使用相同量表、於相同時點(介入前與第 4 週介入後)以相同方式蒐集資料,量測方法與時點兩組一致,故答 N(量測不會因組別而異)。
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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:the study blinded all participants with regard to their experimental or control status. ... Chalder's Fatigue Scale. This scale was the primary outcome measure ... It is a 14-item, self-report scale本研究使所有受試者對其屬實驗組或對照組的狀態盲化……Chalder 疲倦量表為主要結果,是 14 題自填量表。
- 理由:本結果為受試者自填(participant-reported),結果評估者即受試者本人;受試者經由不穿透假針成功盲化、無法分辨所屬組別,故評估者(受試者)對所受介入不知曉,答 N。
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:原文未提供相關描述
- 理由:報告中未提及任何事前的試驗計畫書、統計分析計畫或試驗註冊紀錄,無法確認分析是否依事先(在取得未盲資料前)擬定的計畫進行,故答 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:Measures of fatigue (Chalder's Fatigue Scale), health-related quality of life (SF-12), and general mental health (GHQ-12) were taken at baseline and upon completion of treatment. ... See Table 3.於基線與治療結束時量測疲倦(Chalder 疲倦量表)、健康相關生活品質(SF-12)與一般心理健康(GHQ-12)。……見表 3。
- 理由:Chalder 量表的生理疲倦子分數是預先指定的主要結果之一,僅在基線與治療結束兩個時點量測;表 3 完整報告兩組 T0、T1 的平均、SD 與組間交互作用 F 值/P 值,未見從多個量表/時點中挑選有利者,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:Repeated measures ANOVA (2x2 design) was performed to compare the pre/post changes in fatigue scores for the EG and CG. ... significant interactions were found for the physical-fatigue score, the mental-fatigue score, and the physical component score of SF-12.以重複量數 ANOVA(2×2 設計)比較實驗組與對照組治療前後的疲倦分數變化……生理疲倦、心理疲倦與 SF-12 生理面向皆有顯著交互作用。
- 理由:全文僅以單一預先說明的 2×2 重複量數 ANOVA 分析,表 3 一致呈現各結果的主效應與交互作用,未見對同一結果以多種分析方式擇優報告,故答 PN。惟因無計畫書可比對(5.1 NI),仍保留某些疑慮。