- Framework of problems / Comprehensive
- Overly stringent inclusion criteria affecting external validity
- 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 |