Mark Corbett

TL;DR: The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool has been updated to respond to developments in understanding how bias arises in randomised trials, and to address user feedback on and limitations of the original tool.

TL;DR: Results indicate that acupuncture can be considered as one of the more effective physical treatments for alleviating osteoarthritis knee pain in the short-term, and much of the evidence in this area of research is of poor quality, meaning there is uncertainty about the efficacy of many physical treatments.

TL;DR: Assessment of trial baseline data should form a key and prominent part of selection bias judgements when using the risk of bias tool, and possible benefits are outlined, including reduced uncertainty in systematic review conclusions, reduced risk of chance findings being ascribed to treatment effects and better use of available evidence.

TL;DR: Evidence of effectiveness was found for PDT in the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus, pre-cancerous skin conditions and the following cancers, but Methodological limitations and gaps in the evidence base made it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

TL;DR: The clinical effectiveness data for population subgroups used to inform the multiparameter evidence synthesis and cost-effectiveness modelling were, in places, limited and this should be borne in mind when interpreting the findings of this review.