Table 5 Methodological quality of included studies
Study | Quality score | Random generation sequence | Allocation concealment | Blind | Incomplete outcome data | Selective reporting | Other biases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jules-Elysee et al. [14] | 7 | Computer-generated randomization schedule | Unclear | Yes | No | No | No |
Laoruengthana et al. [13] | 8 | Computer-generated numbers | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
8 | Randomized numbers table | Labeled with numbering code | Yes | No | No | No | |
Abdel et al. [20] | 6 | Randomized but unknown method | Unclear | Yes | No | No | No |
Ahmed et al. [17] | 6 | The lottery method | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
López-Hualda et al [21] | 5 | Randomized but unknown method | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
George et al. [16] | 8 | Computer-generated numbers | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Subramanyam et al. [19] | 8 | Computer-generated numbers | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Wei et al. [18] | 8 | Randomized numbers table | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Goyal et al. [36] | 8 | Computer-generated numbers | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Lacko et al. [22] | 6 | Computer-generated numbers | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
Maniar et al. [33] | 8 | Randomly drawing sealed envelope from container | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Prakash et al. [26] | 7 | Randomized but unknown method | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Song et al. [35] | 8 | Computer-generated numbers | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Stowers et al. [24] | 8 | Block randomization | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Uğurlu et al. [34] | 5 | Randomized but unknown method | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
8 | Randomly drawing sealed envelope from container | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No | |
Zekcer et al. [25] | 8 | Randomly drawing sealed envelope from container | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Aggarwal et al. [39] | 8 | Computer-generated numbers | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
8 | Randomized numbers table | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No | |
Drosos et al. [38] | 8 | Stratified randomization by minimization | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Keyhani et al. [42] | 5 | Randomized but unknown method | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
May et al. [37] | 7 | Randomized numbers table | Unclear | Yes | No | No | No |
Pinsornsak et al. [37] | 7 | Randomized but unknown method | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Tzatzairis et al. [40] | 6 | Stratified randomization by minimization | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
Aguilera et al. [43] | 7 | Randomized numbers table | Unclear | Yes | No | No | No |
Digas et al. [44] | 7 | Randomized but unknown method | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Öztaş et al. [45] | 5 | Randomized but unknown method | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
Gomez-Barrena et al. [46] | 7 | Randomized but unknown method | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |
Patel et al. [47] | 7 | Excel’s randomization | Unclear | Yes | No | No | No |
Sarzaeem et al. [48] | 7 | Randomized numbers table | Unclear | Yes | No | No | No |
Soni et al. [49] | 6 | Computer-generated numbers | Unclear | No | No | No | No |
Seo et al. [50] | 7 | Randomized numbers table | Unclear | Yes | No | No | No |
Maniar et al. [51] | 8 | Randomly drawing sealed envelope from container | Concealed envelope | Yes | No | No | No |