COCHRANE ROB 2 · 偏誤風險評讀
VAS疼痛(第2週,強電針vs假電針)
← 回到「膝蓋退化」的圖表
總體判斷 OVERALL+Low(低風險)
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: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:Low(低風險)
- +總體(Overall):Low(低風險)
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、三臂平行、單盲隨機對照試驗(強電針>2mA vs 弱電針<0.5mA vs 假電針,2:1:1),主要比較為強電針對假電針、以第2週 VAS 疼痛變化為主要疼痛結局(效果 -1.58;95% CI -1.75 至 -1.4;P<.01,強電針較優)。隨機化面:電腦產生分層區塊隨機序列(1.1 Y)、獨立助理集中執行且以電話確認、隱匿維持(1.2 PY)、基線三組可比(1.3 N),隨機化偏誤低。偏離介入面:受試者盲化且不知分組(2.1 PN),僅施針者無法設盲(2.2 Y),無因試驗情境而生的方案偏離(2.3 PN),採 ITT+多重插補的適當分析(2.6 Y),此域偏誤低。缺失資料面:約93%有觀察結局、退出多因與介入無關之嚴重內科事件並以多重插補處理(3.1/3.2 PY、3.3 PN),偏誤低。結局測量面:VAS 為適當且組間一致的自填量表(4.1 N、4.2 PN),評估者即盲化之受試者(4.3 PN);惟強電針與假針感覺強度差異明顯、且未報告盲化成功度檢測,主觀自填結局盲性存有殘餘不確定,此為本結局最需留意處。選擇性報告面:有事前發表方案與經核准之統計分析計畫、ITT 與 PP 雙分析及多量表多時點皆完整報告(5.1 PY、5.2/5.3 PN),偏誤低。整體而言本主要疼痛結局各面向偏誤傾向偏低,主要殘餘疑慮在於主觀自填結局在感覺可分辨情境下的盲性保真度。
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:301 patients with KOA were randomly assigned ... in a ratio of 2:1:1 using a computer-generated random allocation sequence through stratified block randomization method of SAS version 9.1.3.301 名膝關節退化患者以 2:1:1 比例,用 SAS 9.1.3 的分層區塊隨機化法、電腦產生的隨機分配序列進行隨機分派。
- 理由:明確描述使用電腦產生之隨機分配序列(分層區塊隨機化),屬含隨機成分的適當方法,firm evidence,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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:Randomization was performed by an independent research assistant who did not participate in any other section of this study. The acupuncturists were informed of the treatment assignment by mobile phone confirmation, and allocation concealment was not revealed until the final outcome analysis was reported.隨機化由一名未參與研究其他部分的獨立研究助理執行。施針者以手機確認方式獲知分組,分配隱匿直到最終結果分析報告前都未被揭露。
- 理由:由獨立研究助理集中執行隨機、施針者以電話確認方式才獲知分組,且聲明分配隱匿維持到結果分析,屬遠端/中央式隱匿;雖未逐項描述細節,合理判斷隱匿到納入分派前,答 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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:The baseline characteristics of the participants are shown in Table 1. They were comparable across the 3 groups.受試者的基線特徵列於表 1,三組間相當可比。
- 理由:表 1 各項基線(性別、年齡、病程、身高體重、BMI、既往治療)三組相近,組別人數 145/72/75 亦符合 2:1:1 預期比例,無暗示隨機出問題的失衡,答 N。
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:Enrolled participants were only informed that they would receive one of the three acupuncture therapies; consequently, they were not aware of their treatment allocation.納入的受試者只被告知會接受三種針灸療法之一,因此他們並不知道自己被分到哪一組。
- 理由:本試驗為單盲、假針對照,受試者被盲化且作者聲明不知分組(假針用細短針淺刺非穴位、不催氣);雖強電針與假針的感覺強度確有差異,但受試者不知各組設定、無從得知自身歸屬,判斷受試者未知分組,答 PN。
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:Participants, clinical outcome evaluators, and statisticians were blinded to randomization, since it was not feasible to blind the acupuncturists who administered EA.受試者、臨床結局評估者與統計人員均對隨機分組設盲,因為無法對施行電針的施針者設盲。
- 理由:作者明確表示無法對施針者(實際施治者)設盲,施針者知道分組,firm evidence,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:To ensure standardization of the treatment protocol, each acupuncturist from the five hospitals underwent pretrial training on the study protocol ... All participants were required not to take analgesic medications and EA 48 h before each treatment session.為確保治療流程標準化,五家醫院的施針者皆接受試驗前的方案訓練……所有受試者被要求在每次治療前 48 小時內不使用止痛藥與電針。
- 理由:各中心施針者受過標準化訓練、方案嚴格規範(含療前禁用止痛藥),全文未提及任何因試驗情境而生、與方案不符的偏離(如安慰組另尋介入或未落實方案);無證據顯示存在此類偏離,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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Analyses of the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were based on the intention-to-treat (ITT) population, which included participants who had been randomized and baseline data recorded (n = 292). Missing data were imputed for each group separately, using chained equations with predictive mean matching.基線特徵與臨床結局的分析以意向治療(ITT)族群為基礎,納入已隨機且有記錄基線資料者(n=292)。缺失資料以鏈式方程式加預測平均數配對分組各自插補。
- 理由:採 ITT 族群並以多重插補處理缺失結局,受試者依隨機分組分析,屬適當分析(ITT/mITT);僅排除 9 名未記錄基線者屬少數、不影響本判斷,答 Y。
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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:Three hundred one patients with KOA were randomly assigned, among which 271 (90.0%) completed the study ... Multiple imputations were used for the missing data in 21 participants.301 名膝關節退化患者被隨機分派,其中 271 名(90.0%)完成研究……對 21 名受試者的缺失資料採多重插補。
- 理由:ITT 族群 292 人中約 271(約 93%)有觀察到的結局資料,缺失比例低且以多重插補納入全體分析,判斷幾乎所有受試者都有結局資料,答 PY。
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 VAS used in this study was a 10-cm line ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain as bad as it could be) that assessed peak pain intensity over the last 24 h.本研究使用的 VAS 為 10 公分線段,從 0(無痛)到 10(可想像最痛),評估過去 24 小時的最高疼痛強度。
- 理由:VAS 是評估疼痛強度公認且經驗證的適當量表,測量方法本身無不當,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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:The VAS used in this study was a 10-cm line ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 ... that assessed peak pain intensity over the last 24 h.本研究以同一 10 公分 VAS 線段(0 到 10)評估過去 24 小時最高疼痛強度。
- 理由:三組使用相同的 VAS 自填工具、相同時間點與方式量測,組間測量方法一致,無理由認為兩組測量不同,答 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:Participants, clinical outcome evaluators, and statisticians were blinded to randomization ... Enrolled participants ... were not aware of their treatment allocation.受試者、臨床結局評估者與統計人員均對隨機分組設盲……納入的受試者不知道自己的分組。
- 理由:主要結局 VAS 為受試者自填、其本人即為評估者,而受試者已被盲化、不知分組;臨床評估者亦設盲。依假針成功盲化下主觀結局盲性可接受之慣例,判斷評估者未知分組,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 protocol of this clinical trial ... has been described in detail elsewhere [17] ... The statistical analysis plan was completed and approved by the data and safety monitoring board.本臨床試驗的方案……已於他處詳細發表[17]……統計分析計畫已完成並經資料與安全監測委員會核准。
- 理由:有事前發表的研究方案(Trials 2015;16:131)、於 ChiCTR-ICR-14005411 註冊,且統計分析計畫經監測委員會核准,主要結局(VAS、CPM、WOMAC)與報告一致,有充分證據依事前計畫分析,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:Primary outcome measures were visual analog scale (VAS), CPM function, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).主要結局指標為視覺類比量表(VAS)、CPM 功能與西安大略與麥克馬斯特大學骨關節炎指數(WOMAC)。
- 理由:三項主要結局與多項次要疼痛量表(NPRS、ES、PPI)在第 1 週與第 2 週兩個時間點均完整列於表 2,無從多個量測中挑選有利結果的跡象,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:Results of per-protocol analyses were included in the supporting information (Additional file 2: Table S2).符合方案(per-protocol)分析的結果附於補充資料(附加檔案 2:表 S2)。
- 理由:同時報告 ITT(表 2)與符合方案(補充表 S2)兩種分析、效果量與 95% CI 完整呈現,無從多個分析中挑選有利結果的跡象,答 PN。