Table 1

Summary of findings

OutcomesEffect size (95% CI)Participants (n)Risk of biasInconsistencyIndirectnessImprecisionPublication biasQuality assessment
Healing timeSMD −0.95,
(−1.62 to −0.28)
2814
(9 RCTs)
Not seriousSerious
(I2=92% > 60%)
Not seriousNot seriousNot seriousModerate*
Healing rateRR 1.29
(0.90 to 1.85)
3001
(10 RCTs)
Not seriousSerious
(I2=91% > 60%)
Not seriousSerious
(CI overlaps with no effect)
Not seriousLow†
Exudate amountN/A188
(3 RCTs)
Serious
(2/3: selection bias)
NoneNot seriousSerious
(fewer than 400 participants)
NoneLow†
PainN/A378
(7 RCTs)
Serious
(4/7: selection bias; 6/7: performance bias)
NoneNot seriousSerious
(fewer than 400 participants)
NoneLow†
Anti-infective efficacyN/A2904
(11 RCTs)
Serious
(5/11: performance bias)
NoneNot seriousSerious‡NoneLow†
  • The outcomes of interest are healing time, healing rate, exudate amount, pain and anti-infective efficacy.

  • *Moderate certainty: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.

  • †Low certainty: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.

  • ‡On analysis of 11 studies by 2 investigators, and consultation with a third, the notable inconsistencies in the anti-infective efficacy results suggest serious Imprecision in the research area.

  • RCT, randomised controlled trial; SDM, standardised mean difference.