Method Number of comparisons Result Measure of heterogeneity
Method 1 SMDs. Weights based on adjusted standard errors
18
Fixed effects SMD 0.14(95% CI 0.10 to 0.17) Random effects SMD 0.31(95% CI 0.14 to 0.51)
I2 = 95.3%
Method 2 Separate analyses for binary and continuous data. Weights based on adjusted standard errors OR 12 SMD 7 Fixed effects OR 1.13(95% CI 1.06 to 1.20) SMD 0.50(95% CI 0.42 to 0.59) Random effects OR 1.13(95% CI 1.06 to 1.20) SMD 0.92(95% CI 0.11 to 1.73) I2 = 0% I2 = 98.0%
Method 3 SMSs. Weighting by number of HCP
18
SMD 0.57(0.50 to 0.64)
I2 = 98.5%
Method 4 Albatross plot
18
All studies reported a positive effect so clear evidence of treatment effect.
Points not clustered around a single contour line so high levels of heterogeneity