| Ref ID | 670 |
| First Author | J.M. Bjordal |
| Journal | JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE |
| Year Of Publishing | 2006 |
| URL | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16566678/ |
| Keywords |
• Rheumatology • Influence • Subgroup • Reproducibility • Cochrane • Error • Searching |
| Problem(s) |
• Weaknesses identified in some Cochrane reviews • Errors in study inclusion or omission of relevant studies • Unplanned or unjustified subgroup or sensitivity analyses • Errors or omissions in search strategy |
| Article Type | Empirical |
| Article Subtype | Case study |
| First Author Country | United Kingdom |
| Aim | To assess the reliability and sensitivity of conclusions from a Cochrane systematic review published in 2004 with negative conclusions of low-level laser therapy for osteoarthritis. The review was checked against a 9-item checklist for discrepancies between included studies and the results were replicated to detect if review conclusions were robust. |
| Level of Investigation | Descriptive |
| Summary of Findings | The Cochrane review's conclusions was found to neither robust nor valid. Eighteen questionable selections were identified including omissions of trials and data and unperformed subgroup analysis which favoured negative review conclusions. |
| Number of systematic reviews included | 1 |
| Number of eligible systematic reviews assessed | 1 |
| Treatment impacted | No |
| Treatment impacted description | |
| Interpretation impacted | Not Applicable |
| Interpretation impacted description |