Results: The overall ratings of the study group were excellent in 17 cases, good in 6, fair in 1, and poor in 4. Eighty-four percent showed improved range of motion and grip strength.
Ratings of the study approach surpassed the acceptability threshold 97% had a mean score of ≥4 on a 7-point scale and were high regardless normal or abnormal result.
The quality ratings of each study according to NOS criteria are listed in Table 2. Given the comparability, the quality was relatively low because many studies did not report on the control for RA, an essential potential confounder.
We evaluated the hypothetical possibility that, due to their access to the H2S monitor, odor ratings of 12 study participants who were asked to check for malfunctions with the environmental monitoring equipment could have been influenced by the value on the display screen; in this case the relationship between H2S and odor might be over-estimated.
The quality ratings of the studies are displayed in Tables 1 and 2. Six studies focused on healthy older adults [ 18, 20– 230 30].
There was full consensus among the three authors in the independent ratings of 19 studies, and after two authors agreed in the remaining two studies, full consensus was also reached for these remaining two ratings.
Based on our quality assessment criteria (see online supplement, table S3), the quality ratings of the studies are provided in the online appendix (table B).
Women who reported high ratings of pre-study distress (as measured by the BSI-18) were more likely to experience greater DL-related discomfort than women with lower distress ratings.
The rationale for this is that funded research teams are encouraged to publish outside the HTA Journal, and therefore prior publication may affect the relevance ratings of the report if study findings are already in the public domain.
