Table 2 Characteristics of the trials
Characteristic | N | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
Design: | 122 | Â |
   Parallel |  | 113 (93) |
   Factorial |  | 6 (5) |
   Partially randomised patient preference |  | 3 (2) |
Number of arms: | 122 | Â |
   Two |  | 94 (77) |
   Three |  | 18 (15) |
   More than three |  | 10 (8) |
Clinical areas: | 122 | Â |
   Cancer |  | 25 (20) |
   Mental health (including neurosciences/psychiatry/psychology) |  | 21 (17) |
   Orthopaedics/rheumatology (including back pain) |  | 21 (17) |
   Obstetrics & Gynaecology |  | 9 (7) |
   Primary care |  | 8 (7) |
   Cardiology |  | 5 (4) |
   Gastroenterology |  | 5 (4) |
   Incontinence/urology |  | 5 (4) |
   HIV/AIDS |  | 5 (4) |
   Other |  | 18 (15) |
Setting: | 122 | Â |
   Hospital |  | 64 (53) |
   General practice |  | 26 (21) |
   Mixed |  | 16 (13) |
   Community |  | 7 (6) |
   Missing |  | 9 (7) |
Geographical spread: | 122 | Â |
   Multiple regions |  | 63 (52) |
   Regional |  | 51 (42) |
   Missing |  | 8 (7) |
Any recruiting centres outside UK : | 114 | Â |
   No |  | 88 (77) |
   Yes |  | 25 (22) |
   Missing |  | 1 (1) |
Interventions: | 122 | Â |
   Medical (drugs, injections) excluding chemotherapy |  | 37 (30) |
   Behavioural therapies (eg CBT with or without conventional drugs) |  | 12 (10) |
   Different types of surgical intervention (including laparoscopic) |  | 12 (10) |
   Chemotherapy |  | 10 (8) |
   New services/treatment policy/information provision (eg support programmes) |  | 9 (7) |
   Radiology (including ultrasound) |  | 8 (7) |
   Medical instruments (eg metal stents, pacemakers, bandage types) |  | 7 (6) |
   Surgery v alternative (eg conservative management, radiotherapy) |  | 4 (3) |
   Alternative therapies (including complementary medicine, water-based therapies) |  | 4 (3) |
   Other |  | 19 (16) |