COCHRANE ROB 2 · 偏誤風險評讀
膝痛 NPRS 疼痛強度(6週)
← 回到「膝蓋退化」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:Some concerns(有些疑慮)
- ?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
設計:個體隨機、平行組、單盲 RCT(乾針+伸展 vs 口服 diclofenac+伸展),主要結局為 NPRS 膝痛強度,6 週療程結束時 DNG 顯著低於 DG(P<0.001),6 個月追蹤仍維持。隨機化:以電腦亂數產生序列、獨立且設盲的研究員執行、依序編號密封信封分配,隨機過程偏誤風險低(僅信封未明言不透光)。盲性/偏離介入:因乾針對口服藥無法對受試者與施治者設盲;更關鍵的是分析只納入完成研究的 77/98(約 79%),排除未接受介入與中途退出者,屬非 ITT 的完成者分析,且兩組排除不均(DNG≈14% vs DG≈29%)、含與結局相關的『無療效』退出,指派效果估計具實質偏誤潛勢。缺失資料:約 21% 缺失、差別性流失且與疼痛真值相關,偏誤疑慮偏高。結局測量:NPRS 量表本身適當、組間一致,但主要結局為受試者自陳的主觀疼痛且受試者未盲(評估者=未盲受試者),惟對照為主動用藥,判斷可能受知情影響但未至『很可能』。選擇性報告:有註冊但註冊後有更動、無可取得的 SAP,無法確認分析計畫解盲前定案(5.1=NI),惟結局量表與時間點皆完整報告。整體而言,本結局的偏誤傾向主要來自非 ITT 的完成者分析與差別性缺失資料,以及主觀結局之未盲,偏誤風險偏高。
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:A total of 98 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to the two dry needling group (DNG) or the control group (diclofenac group) by an independent researcher using Microsoft Excel 2010 via computerized random numbers.98 位符合納入條件的病人由一位獨立研究人員以 Microsoft Excel 2010 產生電腦隨機亂數,1:1 隨機分配至乾針組(DNG)或對照(diclofenac)組。
- 理由:使用電腦產生的隨機亂數分配,屬含隨機成分的序列生成,符合官方指引『electronic/ computer-generated random numbers』的隨機認定,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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:An independent researcher, who was not involved in the recruitment, assessment, or intervention process, conducted randomization and was blinded to group allocation. ... Sequentially numbered sealed envelopes were used for allocation. The envelopes were only opened by the researcher responsible for applying the treatment programs.由一位未參與招募、評估或介入的獨立研究人員執行隨機化並對分組設盲;採用『依序編號、密封』的信封分配,信封只在負責執行治療的研究人員手中打開。
- 理由:隨機序列由不參與招募/評估/治療的獨立研究員產生並設盲,且採依序編號、密封信封、於治療時才開封,符合官方隱匿分配的合理標準。惟原文只寫『sequentially numbered sealed』未明言『opaque(不透光)』,故給判斷性的 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:There was no significant difference in gender, age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), duration of pain, and the severity of knee involvement on the X-ray between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in the baseline values of study outcomes.兩組在性別、年齡、身高、體重、BMI、疼痛病程及 X 光膝關節嚴重度均無顯著差異;研究結局的基線值亦無統計上顯著差異。
- 理由:各項人口學與預後因子及結局基線值皆無顯著失衡,未見任何暗示隨機出問題的基線不平衡,故答 N。(基線表僅列完成研究者 42/35,但既無失衡跡象,不影響此判斷。)
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:A single-blind trial with 6-month of follow-up with parallel groups was carried out ... allocated to the dry needling latent and active myofascial trigger point (MTrPs) with the stretching group or the oral diclofenac with the stretching group.本試驗為單盲、平行組、含 6 個月追蹤;受試者被分配到『乾針+伸展』組或『口服 diclofenac+伸展』組。
- 理由:介入為乾針(穿刺治療)對比口服藥物,型態截然不同、無安慰劑對照,受試者必然知道自己接受哪種治療;本試驗為單盲(僅評估者設盲),受試者未盲,故答 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:The envelopes were only opened by the researcher responsible for applying the treatment programs.信封只由負責執行治療計畫的研究人員打開。
- 理由:執行乾針/發放口服藥的施治者必然知道每位受試者分組(開封後執行治療),且治療型態不可能對施治者遮蔽,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:During the 6-week treatment, four participants in the DNG and three participants of the DG discontinued treatment, two participants in the DNG withdrew due to lack of effect, three participants in the DG withdrew due to adverse event, and one participant in the DG withdrew for personal reasons.6 週治療期間,DNG 4 人、DG 3 人中斷治療;DNG 2 人因無療效退出,DG 3 人因不良事件、1 人因個人因素退出。
- 理由:所報告的偏離皆為一般臨床情境也會發生的情形(無療效、藥物不良反應、個人因素而中止),並無證據顯示是『因試驗情境(招募/施治者破壞方案)』而生的偏離,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:Finally, the analyses were performed in 77 patients who completed the study (42 in the DNG and 35 in the DG).最終分析僅納入完成研究的 77 位病人(DNG 42 人、DG 35 人)。
- 理由:隨機分配 98 人(49/49),但分析僅納入完成研究的 77 人,排除了未接受分配介入(DNG 6、DG 12)與中途退出者(含因無療效退出)。此為『完成者/類 per-protocol』分析,非 ITT 或僅排除缺失結局的 mITT,屬官方指引判定為不當的分析,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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Randomized (n=98) ... Analysed (n=42) ... Analysed (n=35)隨機化 98 人……最終分析 DNG 42 人、DG 35 人。
- 理由:共排除 21/98(約 21%)未依隨機分組分析,且兩組排除比例不均(DNG 7/49≈14% vs DG 14/49≈29%),部分排除原因(無療效退出)與預後/結局相關。排除比例大、不均且與結局相關,足以對結果產生實質影響,故答 Y。
Domain 3:缺失結局資料 — 判斷: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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Finally, the analyses were performed in 77 patients who completed the study (42 in the DNG and 35 in the DG).最終僅對完成研究的 77 位病人(DNG 42、DG 35)進行分析。
- 理由:98 位隨機化者中僅 77 位(約 79%)有結局資料進入分析,缺失約 21% 且兩組不均,未達『幾乎所有受試者都有結局資料』,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:原文未提供相關描述
- 理由:作者未進行 ITT、未做遺漏資料的敏感度分析或以任何方法處理缺失,論文無任何證據顯示結果不受缺失資料偏誤影響,故答 PN(查無此類佐證)。
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:two participants in the DNG withdrew due to lack of effect ... During the 6-week treatment, four participants in the DNG and three participants of the DG discontinued treatmentDNG 有 2 人因『無療效』退出……治療期間 DNG 4 人、DG 3 人中斷治療。
- 理由:退出原因包含『無療效(lack of effect)』,此直接與疼痛結局的真實值相關(疼痛未改善者較可能退出);主要結局為疼痛強度,故缺失有可能取決於結局真值,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:可能是(Probably yes — 綜合判斷後傾向「是」)
- 原文引述:A total of 42 patients in the dry needling group (DNG) and 35 patients in the diclofenac group (DG), respectively, completed the study.最終 DNG 42 人、DG 35 人完成研究。
- 理由:兩組流失明顯不均(DNG 49→42≈14% vs DG 49→35≈29%),且較差的 diclofenac 組流失更多、退出原因含『無療效』,屬與結局真值相關的差別性流失。此模式使缺失『很可能』取決於真值(疼痛未緩解者退出偏多、且集中在療效較差組),故答 PY。
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 NPRS was used to measure knee pain intensity ... using an 11-point scale ranging from 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("worst pain imaginable") ... The NPRS is a reliable and valid instrument to assess pain intensity.以 NPRS(0『無痛』至 10『最痛』的 11 點量表)測量膝痛強度;NPRS 為評估疼痛強度的可靠且有效工具。
- 理由:NPRS 為經驗證、可靠有效的疼痛評估量表,測量方法本身適當,未見不當,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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months by the same research assistants who had previously been blinded to intervention allocation.結局於基線、6 週、6 個月由同一批先前對分組設盲的研究助理測量。
- 理由:兩組使用相同的 NPRS 量表、相同時間點、由同一批人員收集,測量方法在組間一致,未見組間測量方式差異,故答 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:是(Yes — 有明確證據支持)
- 原文引述:Patients were asked to indicate the average intensity of knee pain over the past 24 h. ... by the same research assistants who had previously been blinded to intervention allocation.由病人自行指出過去 24 小時膝痛的平均強度……(由先前對分組設盲的研究助理協助)。
- 理由:NPRS 為病人自填的受試者報告結局(participant-reported outcome);依官方指引『受試者即為結局評估者』,而受試者未盲(知道自己接受乾針或口服藥),故評估者知情,答 Y。(研究助理雖設盲,但僅為協助記錄,非實際評估者。)
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:Patients were asked to indicate the average intensity of knee pain over the past 24 h. using an 11-point scale病人以 11 點量表自陳過去 24 小時膝痛平均強度。
- 理由:疼痛為主觀的受試者自陳結局,官方指引明列『pain』屬知情可能影響的結局;受試者知道分組,可能影響其對疼痛的評分,故答 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:可能否(Probably no — 綜合判斷後傾向「否」)
- 原文引述:the oral diclofenac with the stretching group口服 diclofenac 加伸展組(為對照組)。
- 理由:對照組為『真藥(diclofenac)+伸展』的積極治療、非無治療或安慰劑,兩組皆接受積極介入,受試者未必先驗地相信某組較優;依官方指引,主動介入對照可降低知情影響的可能性。雖有可能被知情影響(4.4=PY),但尚無強烈理由認定『很可能』確實發生,故答 PN。
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:This randomized controlled trial (RCT) has been registered at the Primary Registry ... "Chinese Clinical Trial Registry" [ChiCTR-INR-17013432]. It should be noted that a small change was made after registration. The inclusion of WOMAC is the result of evaluating knee symptoms and functions.本 RCT 已於中國臨床試驗註冊中心註冊(ChiCTR-INR-17013432);須說明註冊後有小幅更動,納入 WOMAC 以評估膝關節症狀與功能。
- 理由:雖有註冊登錄,但無可取得的統計分析計畫(SAP),無法確認分析計畫是在解盲前定案;且明載註冊後有更動(後加 WOMAC)。無法確認事前統計計畫在解盲前定案,故依規格答 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:The NPRS was used to measure knee pain intensity ... at baseline, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months following the initial treatment session.NPRS 於初次治療後的基線、2 週、6 週及 6 個月測量膝痛強度。
- 理由:疼痛結局僅以單一預設量表 NPRS 測量,且各時間點(基線、2/6 週、6 個月)皆完整報告於 Table 3,未見從多個量表/時間點擇優報告的跡象,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-way repeated measures analysis of variance with a post-hoc Bonferroni correction was used, and the level of significance was set at 5% (p < 0.05).採雙因子重複測量變異數分析加事後 Bonferroni 校正,顯著水準設為 5%(p<0.05)。
- 理由:主要結局僅報告單一預設的組間分析(重複測量 ANOVA),未見多種分析(調整/未調整、不同缺失處理等)擇優報告的跡象,故答 PN。