Table 2 Evaluation of evidence. The studies are categorized as conclusive (total score 8–9), highly suggestive (total score 6–7), suggestive (total score 4–5) and inconclusive (total score ≤ 3)
Reference | Level of evidence | Randomization | Blinding | Group size | Similarity between groups | Equal treatment of groups | Follow up | SCORE | Categorization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[4] | IIB | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
[5] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
[6] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | SUGGESTIVE |
[7] | IV | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
[8] | IB | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | CONCLUSIVE |
[9] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
[10] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | INCONCLUSIVE |
[11] | IIB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
[12] | IV | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
[13] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | SUGGESTIVE |
[14] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
[15] | IV | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | INCONCLUSIVE |
[16] | IB | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | CONCLUSIVE |
[17] | IB | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
[18] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
[19] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
[20] | IB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |
[21] | IIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | SUGGESTIVE |
[22] | IC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
[23] | IC | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE |
[24] | IV | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | SUGGESTIVE |