COCHRANE ROB 2 · 偏誤風險評讀
首步疼痛VAS(6週組間)
← 回到「足底筋膜炎」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:Low(低風險)
- -Domain 2 偏離預定介入:High(高風險)
- -Domain 3 缺失結局資料:High(高風險)
- -Domain 4 結局測量:High(高風險)
- +Domain 5 選擇性報告:Low(低風險)
- -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
本篇為平行、宣稱單盲的 RCT,評讀主要結局=首步疼痛(VAS)於治療 6 週後的基線校正組間比較(乾針+伸展 vs 純伸展,效果=指派效果 ITT)。隨機化面向佳:區組隨機(區組 4、1:1)以軟體產生序列(1.1 Y),編號密封信封交第三方保管(1.2 PY),基線平衡(1.3 N)。偏離介入(Domain 2)是主要弱點:無假針、受試者與施治者皆知情(2.1/2.2 Y),且作者明言全採 per-protocol、未做 ITT(2.6 N),約 46%(69→37)未依隨機分組被分析、足以造成實質影響(2.7 Y)。缺失資料(Domain 3)風險高:僅約 54% 有結局資料(3.1 N)、無 ITT/插補或敏感度分析(3.2 N),退出理由含『無改善』且兩組不對稱(3.3/3.4 PY),缺失可能與疼痛真值相關並偏誤結果。結局測量(Domain 4):VAS 量表本身適當(4.1 N)、兩組量測一致(4.2 N),但為受試者自評的主觀疼痛、評估者即知情受試者(4.3 Y),在無假針下評估很可能受知情與期待效應影響(4.4/4.5 PY)。選擇性報告(Domain 5):前瞻登錄 IRCT、依 CONSORT,主要結局事先明訂(5.1 PY),各量表與時間點完整報告、分析方法單一一致(5.2/5.3 PN)。整體而言,本結局的偏誤主要來自無盲化的主觀結局、per-protocol 分析與高比例且可能與結局相關的缺失資料,整體偏誤傾向偏高。
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 eligible subjects were randomly assigned following the block randomization procedure with block size: 4 and ratio 1:1 into two groups ... was made using Random Allocation Software (version 1.0.0).合格受試者依區組隨機化程序(區組大小 4、比例 1:1)隨機分派為兩組……使用 Random Allocation Software(1.0.0 版)決定分派。
- 理由:明確使用電腦軟體(Random Allocation Software)以區組隨機化產生序列,含隨機成分,序列為隨機。
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:To conceal the sequence of random allocations, numbered closed envelopes containing A or B group were used and the envelopes were given to the clinic secretary.為隱匿隨機分派序列,使用內含 A 或 B 組的編號密封信封,並將信封交給診所秘書保管。
- 理由:使用編號、封閉信封,並交由不參與收案的第三方(診所秘書)保管,屬合理的分配隱匿。惟未明述信封為不透明、含防篡改封條,且區組大小固定為 4 理論上末位可推測,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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:No statistically significant difference was detected in the participants' demographic characteristics among the two groups and the two group were balanced (p > .05). Also, there were no significant between-group differences in the primary and secondary outcome measures at baseline (p > .05).兩組人口學特徵無統計學顯著差異、兩組平衡(p>.05);主要與次要結局在基線亦無顯著組間差異(p>.05)。
- 理由:Table 2 顯示年齡、體重、身高、BMI、性別 p 值皆 >.05,基線結局也無顯著差異,無暗示隨機化出問題的失衡。
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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Group A received the combination of stretching exercises and dry needling, and the group B received the stretching exercise only.A 組接受伸展運動+乾針的合併治療,B 組僅接受伸展運動。
- 理由:對照組僅做伸展、無假針(sham needling)對照,實驗組多接受一項明顯的乾針穿刺處置;受試者必然知道自己是否被扎針。論文雖稱『single-blinded/subjects were blinded』,但在無假針設計下對受試者的盲化實質上不成立,故受試者知情。
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 dry needling technique was performed by a physiotherapist (SS) who had a certificate in dry needling and more than seven years of clinical experience.乾針由一位持有乾針證照、逾七年臨床經驗的物理治療師(SS)執行。
- 理由:施予乾針的物理治療師必然知道哪一組接受乾針;監督伸展的治療師亦知分組。施治者無法盲化。
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:12 subjects refused to complete intervention period due to: accident (1)(2feet), no improvement (2), No reason (9)(11feet) ... 13 subjects refused to complete intervention period due to: no improvement (6), No reason (7)(8feet).實驗組 12 位因意外(1)、無改善(2)、無理由(9)拒絕完成介入期;對照組 13 位因無改善(6)、無理由(7)拒絕完成。
- 理由:文中僅見受試者退出/不遵從(多為無改善或無理由),屬試驗情境之外亦可能發生的一般性非遵從,未見因試驗情境(招募、去平衡、施治者破壞流程)而生、且與方案不符的偏離之證據,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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:All results in the present study are based on the per-protocol analysis. ... Third, all results in our study were based on the per-protocol analysis and intention to treat (ITT) (multiple imputation) analysis was not performed.本研究所有結果皆基於 per-protocol 分析……作者於限制中明言:所有結果基於 per-protocol 分析,未執行意向治療(ITT,多重插補)分析。
- 理由:作者明確採 per-protocol(僅完成者)分析、且明言未做 ITT。純 per-protocol 排除未依方案完成者,對估計『指派效果(ITT)』屬不適當分析,故 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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Randomised (n = 69)(n=78 feet) ... Analysis (n=19 subjects)(20 feet) ... Analysis (n=18 subjects)(20 feet).隨機分派 69 位(78 足)……最終分析實驗組 19 位(20 足)、對照組 18 位(20 足)。
- 理由:隨機化 69 位,最終僅 37 位(約 54%)納入 per-protocol 分析,約 46% 未依隨機分組被分析/被排除。排除比例極高,足以對結果造成實質影響,故 Y。
Domain 3:缺失結局資料 — 判斷:High
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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Randomised (n = 69)(n=78 feet) ... Analysis (n=19 subjects)(20 feet) ... Analysis (n=18 subjects)(20 feet).隨機分派 69 位(78 足),最終分析實驗組 19 位(20 足)、對照組 18 位(20 足),合計 37 位(40 足)。
- 理由:主要結局分析僅涵蓋 69 位隨機化受試者中的 37 位(約 54%),大量受試者無結局資料,並非幾乎所有人皆有資料,故 N。
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:否(No — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:intention to treat (ITT) (multiple imputation) analysis was not performed.未執行意向治療(ITT,多重插補)分析。
- 理由:作者僅報告 per-protocol 完成者分析,未做 ITT/插補或針對缺失的敏感度分析,缺失資料量又高達約 46%,無證據顯示結果未受缺失偏誤影響,故 N。
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:12 subjects refused to complete intervention period due to: accident (1), no improvement (2), No reason (9) ... 13 subjects refused ... due to: no improvement (6), No reason (7).實驗組因『無改善』2 位退出、對照組因『無改善』6 位退出(另有無理由與意外者)。
- 理由:退出理由包含『無改善(no improvement)』,此與疼痛結局的真值直接相關(疼痛未改善者較易退出),故缺失有可能取決於結局真值,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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:no improvement (2) ... no improvement (6) ... refused to answer the phone for final assessment.實驗組 2 位、對照組 6 位因『無改善』退出,另有數位於追蹤期拒接電話而缺最終評估。
- 理由:缺失比例極高(約 46%)且與結局相關的退出理由(無改善)在兩組不對稱(對照 6 vs 實驗 2),疼痛未改善者較可能退出、且兩組流失結構不同,很可能使缺失取決於真值並偏誤組間比較,故 PY。惟部分退出為『無理由』或拒接電話,關聯程度存不確定性。
Domain 4:結局測量 — 判斷:High
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:First step pain intensity in morning or after a long rest period was measured using the VAS (ranging from "no pain' (0) to "very severe pain" (10)). It is a common valid and reliable scale to evaluate pain intensity.晨起或久休後的首步疼痛以 VAS(0『無痛』至 10『非常嚴重』)量測,為評估疼痛強度常用、有效且可信的量表。
- 理由:主要結局採已驗證、可信的 VAS 疼痛量表,量測方法本身適當,故 N(不當=否)。
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:First step pain intensity ... was measured using the VAS ... Primary outcomes were assessed at the baseline, after three weeks of intervention, after six weeks of intervention, and after a two-week follow-up.首步疼痛以 VAS 量測;主要結局於基線、介入 3 週後、6 週後及追蹤 2 週後評估。
- 理由:兩組使用相同的 VAS 於相同時間點量測,量測方法在兩組間一致,不會因組別而不同,故 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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:First step pain intensity in morning or after a long rest period was measured using the VAS. ... Group A received the combination of stretching exercises and dry needling, and the group B received the stretching exercise only.首步疼痛以 VAS 由受試者自評;A 組接受伸展+乾針、B 組僅伸展。
- 理由:VAS 疼痛為受試者自填(受試者=結局評估者)。在無假針、受試者知道自己是否被扎針的情況下,評估者(受試者)知情,故 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:Subjective pain intensity. First step pain intensity in morning or after a long rest period was measured using the VAS.『主觀疼痛強度』——首步疼痛以 VAS 量測。
- 理由:結局為高度主觀的受試者自評疼痛,且受試者知道自己接受了額外的乾針主動治療,其對疼痛的評估可能受知情與期待效應影響,故 PY。
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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:This study was a blinded, parallel randomized controlled trial ... All of the included subjects and the research assistant who performed statistics were blinded.本研究為盲性、平行 RCT……所有納入受試者與執行統計的研究助理皆盲化。
- 理由:儘管論文宣稱受試者盲化,但無假針對照使此盲化在實質上不成立;主觀自評疼痛加上受試者知情與乾針的強期待效應,評估很可能受知情影響(乾針類侵入性處置的安慰劑效應已知偏強),故 PY。
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:Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (ID: IRCT20180107038257N1). The CONSORT checklist was followed for designing and reporting the present study.已於伊朗臨床試驗註冊庫登錄(ID: IRCT20180107038257N1),並依 CONSORT 檢核表設計與報告本研究。
- 理由:研究前瞻性登錄於 IRCT,主要結局(首步疼痛、FAOS 疼痛與 ADL 次量表)事先明訂,且遵循 CONSORT,支持依事前計畫分析,故 PY。惟未取得完整統計分析計畫(SAP),且改採 per-protocol 是否事前定案不明,保留不確定性。
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 outcomes were first step pain, pain, and activity daily function subscales of the FAOS questionnaire ... assessed at the baseline, after three weeks ... after six weeks ... and after a two-week follow-up.主要結局為首步疼痛及 FAOS 的疼痛與 ADL 次量表,於基線、3 週、6 週及追蹤 2 週評估。
- 理由:所有主要結局量表與四個時間點的數據皆完整報告於 Table 3,未見從多個量測中挑選有利者呈現的跡象,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:Between-group comparisons for all outcomes were performed using ANOVA/ ANCOVA with baseline adjustment.所有結局的組間比較皆以基線校正的 ANOVA/ANCOVA 執行。
- 理由:組間比較採單一預設方法(基線校正 ANOVA/ANCOVA)並一致報告;作者僅未加做 ITT(而非在多種已做分析中挑選有利者呈現),無證據顯示結果係從多個分析中擇優挑選,故 PN。