- Framework of problems / Comprehensive
- Language restriction
- Heterogeneity in search strategies among Cochrane acupuncture reviews: is there room for improvement?
| Ref ID | 167 |
| First Author | S. Lui |
| Journal | ACUPUNCTURE IN MEDICINE |
| Year Of Publishing | 2010 |
| URL | https://core.ac.uk/download/56031.pdf |
| Keywords |
Cochrane Complimentary & Alternative External validity Language |
| Problem(s) |
Language restriction Overly stringent inclusion criteria affecting external validity |
| Number of systematic reviews included | 48 |
| Summary of Findings | Of the 48 completed Cochrane reviews only 13 (27%) of the included reviews and protocols searched Chinese language databases. The majority of the 48 full reviews (n=28), were inconclusive because of a lack of included studies to fully answer the research question. After stratifying on the use of Chinese databases, a greater proportion of the reviews which did not search Chinese databases were inconclusive as to the effectiveness of acupuncture (68.6% compared with 30.8%). 41.5% of the included articles had at least one Chinese speaking author. Two-thirds of the reviews and protocols (n=40) had the capacity or stated that they translated Chinese language abstracts to determine inclusion for the review. However, seven (10.8%) articles had a language restriction on the inclusion criteria and only reviewed English language articles. |
| Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? | Not Applicable |
| Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? | No |