For each category of intervention a cost range was calculated basing on the single works that for each type have been supposed.
Within 6 respective searches (by category of intervention), there was a total of 22,349 abstracts or citations and 949 full-text papers reviewed in duplicate.
No category of intervention managed to have consistent efficacy.
Studies not included in the meta-analysis for this category of intervention showed varied results.
The lessons learned were entered into an Access database and categorized by state, category of intervention (such as partnerships, recruitment, workshops, quality improvement assistance, etc).
We plotted the results on a matrix ('harvest plot') for each category of intervention, weighting studies by the methodological criteria and distributing them between the competing hypotheses.
There was also variability in the level of details of interventions, with some guidelines dividing a category of intervention into various forms, and others succinctly describing only the category.
For each category of intervention (such as restrictions on sales to minors) we then populated a matrix to show the distribution of the evidence, drawing on examples of the use of matrices to analyse and synthesise qualitative data [ 15].
These included, first author (surgeon/non-surgeon), geographic location, category of intervention, body region of focus (upper extremity, lower extremity, spine), number of participating centres, and funding (yes/no).
Firstly, if the trial was comparing two or more physiotherapy methods in the same category of intervention (as described above) versus control, then the data for those physiotherapy arms were combined to give one comparison of physiotherapy intervention versus control for that trial.
