Use of placebo controls in the evaluation of surgery: systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate whether placebo controls should be used in the evaluation of surgical interventions.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

We searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register from their inception to November 2013.

Study selection

Randomised clinical trials comparing any surgical intervention with placebo. Surgery was defined as any procedure that both changes the anatomy and requires a skin incision or use of endoscopic techniques.

Data extraction

Three reviewers (KW, BJFD, IR) independently identified the relevant trials and extracted data on study details, outcomes, and harms from included studies.

Results

In 39 out of 53 (74%) trials there was improvement in the placebo arm and in 27 (51%) trials t

SUBMITTER: Wartolowska K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4029190 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature