Table 4

Reporting quality of each CONSORT checklist item and subitem by type of intervention

ItemsCriteria and subitemsPharmacological
(n=44), n (%)
Non-pharmacological
(n=132), n (%)
Risk ratio
(95% CI)
1. TitleIdentification of the study as randomised20 (45.5)32 (24.2)0.53 (0.34 to 0.83)
2. AuthorsContact details for the corresponding author0 (0)0 (0)NE
3. Trial designDescription of the trial design (eg, parallel, cross-over)19 (43.2)38 (28.8)0.66 (0.43 to 1.03)
4. ParticipantEligibility criteria for participants and the settings where the data were collected2 (4.5)14 (10.6)2.33 (0.55 to 9.87)
4a. Eligibility criteria for participants40 (90.9)130 (98.5)1.08 (0.98 to 1.19)
4b. Settings of data collection2 (4.5)14 (10.6)2.33 (0.55 to 9.87)
5. InterventionsInterventions intended for each group39 (88.6)91 (68.9)0.78 (0.67 to 0.91)
6. ObjectiveSpecific objective or hypothesis44 (100)126 (95.5)0.95 (0.92 to 0.99)
7. Outcome*Clearly defined primary outcome for this report12 (27.3)16 (12.1)0.44 (0.23 to 0.87)
8. RandomisationHow participants were allocated to interventions0 (0)0 (0)NE
8a. Random assignment44 (100)132 (100)1.00 (1.00 to 1.00)
8b. Sequence generation0 (0)0 (0)NE
8 c. Allocation concealment0 (0)0 (0)NE
9. Blinding (masking)Whether or not participants, caregivers, and those assessing the outcomes were blinded5 (11.4)9 (6.8)0.60 (0.21 to 1.70)
9a. Generic description only (eg, single blind, double blind)27 (61.4)18 (13.6)0.22 (0.14 to 0.36)
10. Numbers randomisedNo of participants randomised to each group17 (38.6)62 (47.0)1.22 (0.80 to 1.84)
11. RecruitmentTrial status (eg, ongoing, closed to recruitment, closed to follow-up)12 (27.3)29 (22.0)0.81 (0.45 to 1.44)
12. Numbers analysedNo of participants analysed in each group8 (18.2)16 (12.1)0.67 (0.31 to 1.45)
12a. Intention-to-treat analysis or per-protocol analysis2 (4.5)10 (7.6)1.67 (0.38 to 7.32)
13. OutcomeFor the primary outcome, a result for each group and the estimated effect size and its precision0 (0)0 (0)NE
13a. Primary outcome result for each group4 (9.1)7 (5.3)0.58 (0.18 to 1.90)
13b. Estimated effect size1 (2.3)4 (3.0)1.33 (0.15 to 11.61)
13c. Precision of the estimate (eg, 95% CI)1 (2.3)2 (1.5)0.67 (0.06 to 7.17)
14. HarmsImportant adverse events or side effects17 (38.6)5 (3.8)0.10 (0.04 to 0.25)
15. ConclusionsGeneral interpretation of the results40 (90.9)132 (100)1.10 (1.00 to 1.21)
15a. Benefits and harms balanced8 (18.2)2 (1.5)0.08 (0.02 to 0.38)
16. Trial registrationRegistration no and name of trial register2 (4.5)4 (3.0)0.67 (0.13 to 3.52)
17. FundingSource of funding40 (90.9)122 (92.4)1.02 (0.91 to 1.13)
  • *Outcome reported in Methods section.

  • †Outcome reported in Results section.

  • CONSORT, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials; NE, not estimable due to zero cell counts.

  • Bold values are those indicating statistical significance.