Nonspecific adverse events in knee osteoarthritis clinical trials: a systematic review.

Background: Adverse events (AEs) derived from nonspecific activity of treatments can impair the validity of trials, and even make it difficult to identify specific AEs associated with treatments. To better understand these nonspecific AEs, we investigated the AEs in placebo groups by using knee osteoarthritis clinical trials.

Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, knee osteoarthritis trials were identified by searching electronic databases.

Clinically meaningful nocebo effect occurs in acupuncture treatment: a systematic review.

Objective: To investigate the nocebo effect using randomized acupuncture trials that include sham and no-treatment groups.

Study Design And Setting: Electronic databases were searched to retrieve eligible trials from their inception until June 2013. Risk differences were then calculated using the acupuncture and sham groups to determine the treatment effect and the sham and no-treatment groups to determine the nocebo effect.

Eligibility criteria in knee osteoarthritis clinical trials: systematic review.

There is an increasing concern over generalizability of trial results. We investigated eligibility criteria of knee osteoarthritis clinical trials. Eligible trials were randomized, placebo-controlled trials that were identified by searches in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Barriers to participant retention in knee osteoarthritis clinical trials: a systematic review.

Objective: We investigated the reasons and rates of attrition in knee osteoarthritis trials through a systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials.

Methods: Randomized trials were identified by searches conducted in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We then attempted to identify and describe the reasons for attrition and their associated themes.

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field on knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review.

Objective: Many reviews have been previously published on the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) in the management of knee OA. However, their results regarding pain and function yielded conflicting conclusions. Therefore this study was conducted to determine the efficacy of PEMF as compared with a placebo.