COCHRANE ROB 2 · 偏誤風險評讀
疼痛(NPRS)6週組間
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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:Some concerns(有些疑慮)
- ?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
本篇為平行組隨機對照(乾針 vs 可體松注射治療大轉子疼痛症候群),主要結局為 6 週側髖疼痛(NPRS 0-10)之組間非劣性比較,效果採指派效果(ITT)。隨機化:以 SAS 產生區塊隨機序列、由獨立協調員保管方案達成分配隱匿,基線大致相似(僅約 8.8 歲年齡差、屬小樣本機遇範圍),隨機化域偏誤低。偏離介入:屬未盲試驗(病人與施治者皆知分組、無假針對照),但各組僅接受指派介入、不允許輔助治療、未見因試驗情境而生的偏離,且主要分析採意向治療(ITT)混合效應模型,此域大致無虞。缺失資料:主要結局在納入的 50 髖皆為完整資料(僅 2 名早期退出者替補),偏誤低。結局測量:疼痛為病人自評且病人未盲化,知情可能影響評分,惟對照組為另一積極治療(非無治療)、屬非劣性設計,差別性期望較弱,無證據顯示知情很可能偏誤評估,此域為 Some concerns。選擇性報告:試驗為回溯性註冊(收案結束後才註冊)、無事前定案之統計計畫可查(5.1=NI),但單一疼痛量表、各時間點與計畫內分析皆完整報告,此域為 Some concerns。整體而言,本結局的偏誤主要來自主觀結局在未盲病人自評下的測量偏誤與缺乏事前分析計畫佐證,傾向 Some concerns。
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 in blocks to either the DN or cortisone injection treatment (n = 10 per block)... The randomization schedule was provided by a biostatistician, performed using SAS Version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC).病人以區塊隨機分配至乾針或可體松注射治療(每區塊 n=10)……隨機分派表由一位生物統計師提供,使用 SAS 9.2 版執行。
- 理由:使用電腦(SAS)產生的區塊隨機序列,含明確隨機成分,屬適當的隨機序列生成,判為 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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:he or she was allocated to either the DN or cortisone injection group, according to the randomization scheme provided by the biostatistician to an independent study research coordinator, to provide allocation concealment. The independent study research coordinator was not blinded to group allocation.病人(在同意後)依生物統計師提供給一位獨立研究協調員的隨機方案分配到乾針或可體松注射組,以達成分配隱匿。該獨立研究協調員本身對分組並未盲化。
- 理由:隨機方案由獨立於收案人員的協調員保管、且分配發生在病人同意納入之後,作者明言目的即為分配隱匿,符合隱匿機制。惟未細述隱匿的具體防護(如序列不可預測),且採固定區塊大小(10)理論上末位可預測,故給 PY 而非 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:Baseline characteristics and demographics were similar between groups (TABLE 1). Despite an age difference of 8.8 years (mean +/- SD, 61.3 +/- 16.5 years for the DN group and 70.1 +/- 11.4 years for the cortisone injection group), the patients were not considered to be different because they were all within the elderly age category.兩組基線特徵與人口學相似(表1)。雖有 8.8 歲的年齡差(乾針組 61.3±16.5 歲、可體松組 70.1±11.4 歲),但因兩組皆屬高齡族群,故不視為有差異。
- 理由:組別人數接近 1:1(乾針 21 vs 可體松 22、各 25 髖),基線大致相似。存在約 8.8 歲的年齡差,但在每組僅約 25 髖的小樣本下與機遇相容、未報告達統計顯著,不足以暗示隨機化出問題,判為 PN。
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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Patients were not told which treatment they would receive... Despite not being told which group they were in, patients could identify their group allocation and therefore were not blinded.未告知病人會接受何種治療……儘管未被告知分組,病人仍能辨識自己的分組,因此並未盲化。
- 理由:乾針與注射兩種介入外觀與過程完全不同,作者明言病人可辨識自身分組、未盲化,故受試者知道自己的分組,判為 Y。
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:STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, partially blinded... All patients in this group were treated by the same investigator, who was certified in DN... Injections were performed by 1 of 3 orthopaedic surgeons or by 1 of 2 physician assistants.研究設計:前瞻、隨機、部分盲化……乾針組全部由同一位、具乾針認證的研究者施治……注射則由 3 位骨科醫師或 2 位醫師助理之一執行。
- 理由:施治者必然知道自己在做乾針或在打注射,兩種介入無法對施治者盲化(僅「部分盲化」且無假針對照),故照顧者/施治者知道分組,判為 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:Dry needling was the only form of treatment administered... Cortisone injection was the only form of treatment administered... in an effort to control variables, this study did not allow adjunct treatments.乾針是唯一施予的治療形式……可體松注射是唯一施予的治療形式……為控制變項,本研究不允許任何輔助治療。
- 理由:各組僅接受指派介入、不允許輔助治療,報告中未見任何因試驗情境(非等視、額外處置)而生、且與試驗計畫不一致的偏離,判為 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:Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the effect of treatment on pain and the PSFS scores over time... TABLE 5: Numeric Pain Ratings and Averaged Weighted PSFS Changes Between 6 Weeks Postintervention and Baseline (Intent to Treat).以混合效應模型評估治療對疼痛與 PSFS 分數隨時間的效果……表5:6 週後與基線之數字疼痛評分與加權平均 PSFS 變化(意向治療)。
- 理由:主要分析以混合效應模型依指派組別分析、並明確標示為「意向治療(Intent to Treat)」,且表4註記「所有病人皆有完整疼痛與 PSFS 資料」,屬適當的指派效果分析(ITT/mITT)。惟 2 名乾針組退出者以新收案者替補、非嚴格全隨機化樣本,故給 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:All patients had complete pain and PSFS data... At one point during data collection, 2 subjects withdrew from the DN group, and a request for site enrollment of an additional 2 subjects was approved.所有病人皆有完整的疼痛與 PSFS 資料……資料收集期間有 2 名受試者退出乾針組,並經核准額外收案 2 名補足。
- 理由:主要結局(疼痛)在納入分析的全部 50 髖皆為完整資料(作者明言 all patients had complete pain data);僅 2 名乾針組早期退出並以新收案替補,屬極少數,判為幾乎所有受試者都有結局資料(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:Some concerns
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 the numeric pain-rating scale (0-10).主要結局測量為數字疼痛評定量表(0-10)。
- 理由:數字疼痛評定量表(NPRS 0-10)是評估疼痛的標準、已驗證工具,對可能的介入效果敏感,測量方法適當,判為 N(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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:The outcome scales were explained and collected by a third-party research coordinator. Instructions for answering the scales were read to the patient at every data-collection period.結局量表由第三方研究協調員解說與收集。每個資料收集時點都對病人朗讀作答說明。
- 理由:兩組使用相同的 NPRS 量表、相同時間點(基線、1/3/6 週)、由同一第三方協調員以相同流程收集,兩組測量方法一致,判為 PN(兩組測量不太可能不同)。
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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Despite not being told which group they were in, patients could identify their group allocation and therefore were not blinded.儘管未被告知分組,病人仍能辨識自己的分組,因此並未盲化。
- 理由:主要結局為病人自填之疼痛(自評結局),其結局評估者即為受試者本人,而病人並未盲化、可辨識自身分組,故評估者知道所接受的介入,判為 Y。
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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:Despite not being told which group they were in, patients could identify their group allocation and therefore were not blinded.儘管未被告知分組,病人仍能辨識自己的分組,因此並未盲化。
- 理由:疼痛屬主觀的病人自評結局,受試者對介入的知情可能影響其評分,判為 PY(評估可能受知情影響)。
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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:a sham DN procedure was not applied, so the degree of partial blinding is questionable. Additionally, because both groups received treatment, we cannot comment on the placebo effect.未採用假乾針程序,因此部分盲化的程度令人存疑。此外,因兩組皆接受了治療,我們無法評論安慰劑效應。
- 理由:雖然疼痛主觀且病人未盲、知情「可能」影響評分(4.4=PY),但本試驗對照組為另一種積極治療(可體松注射)而非無治療/常規照護,兩組病人皆接受了看似有效的介入,減弱了「哪一組較好」的先驗信念與差別性期望;且屬非劣性設計。無強烈證據顯示知情「很可能」偏誤了疼痛評估,判為 PN(此時 Domain 4 落在 Some concerns)。
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:Participants (n = 43) were all patients treated by providers within the orthopaedic department... between May 2013 and July 2015... Registered December 2, 2015 at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02639039).受試者(n=43)皆為 2013 年 5 月至 2015 年 7 月間於骨科部門接受治療之病人……於 2015 年 12 月 2 日在 clinicaltrials.gov 註冊(NCT02639039)。
- 理由:試驗於 2013/5–2015/7 收案治療,卻遲至 2015/12/2 才在 ClinicalTrials.gov 註冊,屬回溯性註冊、在資料收集完成之後;文中未提供在解盲前定案的統計分析計畫或事前方案,無法確認分析是依解盲前定案的計畫進行,判為 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:Measurements were taken at baseline (within 24 hours prior to initial treatment) and at 1, 3, and 6 weeks after initial treatment... The primary outcome measure was the numeric pain-rating scale (0-10).測量於基線(初次治療前 24 小時內)與初次治療後 1、3、6 週進行……主要結局測量為數字疼痛評定量表(0-10)。
- 理由:疼痛僅以單一量表(NPRS)測量、6 週為事前指定之主要時間點,且各時間點(1/3/6 週)數據皆完整報告於表4,未見從多個量表或時間點中挑選有利者,判為 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:A noninferiority test with a margin of 1.5, as illustrated by Mascha and Sessler, was used to assess the noninferiority of DN over cortisone injection for pain and PSFS at 6 weeks within the mixed-effects model.在混合效應模型內,採用邊界值 1.5 的非劣性檢定(依 Mascha 與 Sessler 的方法)評估乾針對可體松注射在 6 週疼痛與 PSFS 的非劣性。
- 理由:6 週疼痛的分析方法(混合效應模型+邊界 1.5 的非劣性檢定)與樣本量計算時的設定一致並完整報告,未見從多種分析(調整/未調整、變化量/終值等)中挑選有利結果,判為 PN。