Table 2 Quality Appraisal/ Risk of Bias of included studies (Cochrane tool)
Adequate Sequence generation | Allocation concealment | Blinding | Incomplete outcome data addressed | Selective outcome reporting | Free of other bias | Summary ROBc. Quality* | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Judgement | Description | Judgement | Description | Judgement | Description | Judgement | Description | Judgement | Description | Judgement | Description | ||
Agin 2001 | Yes | Quote: “Sequential randomization was generated …” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “Group assignment was executed by the principal investigator and concealed until the time of treatment” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Quote: “Adherence to exercise training was 94% for PRE” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Study outcome adequately reported. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Anandh 2014 | Yes | Quote: “All 24 subjects after baseline assessment were randomly allotted” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “…into two groups by using sealed envelopes.” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “…physiotherapist who is blinded to group allotment” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “Intention to treat analysis for all outcome measures was carried out” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “All three outcome measures were tested at baseline and end of three months of intervention” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Baigis 2002 | Yes | Quote: “Study identification (ID) numbers were randomized” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “…in advance and placed in sequentially numbered opaque envelopes” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Quote: “Intent to treat analysis was used for the physiologic variables” Comment: Missing data imputed using appropriate method | Yes | Quote: “outcomes between the intervention and the control group were determined at baseline, 8, and 15 weeks” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Ezema 2014 | Yes | Quote: “Eligible participants were randomized…” Comments: Probably done | No | Quote: “using simple random assignment into the exercise group and the control group respectively.” Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Comment: Missing data adequately accounted for. | Yes | Comment: Study outcome recorded pre and post treatment. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Gillespie 1997 | Yes | Quote: “a table of random numbers was used to randomly assign each individual…” Comment: Probably done | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Comment: Missing data reported appropriately | Yes | Quote: “… variables in the pretest to posttest changes in quality of life…” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Maduagwu, 2015 | Yes | Quote: “This random assignment involved the authors…” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “…papers were then wrapped, placed and mixed in a basket.” Comment: probably done. | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Quote: “22% attrition rate was recorded general,..” Comment: probably done | Yes | Quote: “… the pre – and post – test values of the variables in the experimental and control groups.” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Maharaj 2011 | Yes | Quote: “…then randomly assigned by means of a computer…” Comment: Probably done | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Quote: “the researchers and assistants blinded to the scores…” Comment: probably done | Yes | Comment: Missing data imputed. | Yes | Quote: “questionnaire was completed by both groups on entry and monthly …” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Mkandla 2016 | Yes | Quote: “Random allocation was applied to both participants and clinics.” Comment: Probably done. | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Quote: “An assessor-blinded RCT was conducted” Comment: probably done. | Yes | Quote: “Intention to treat analysis was applied using the last observed value for missing data (60%).” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Quote: “…profile scores at baseline and post-intervention” Comment: Probably done. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Ogalha 2011 | Yes | Quote: “70 subjects were randomized” Comment: Probably done | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Comments: No missing Data for the Exercise group | Yes | Comment: Study outcome adequately reported. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Perna 1999 | Yes | Quote: “… were randomly assigned” Comment: Probably done | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Quote: “... as a between- subjects factor and time point (baseline and 3-month)…” Comments: Probably done. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Smith 2001 | Yes | Quote: “subjects were randomly assigned…” Comment: Probably done. | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Quote: “…except the principal investigator, were blinded to the subject’s group assignment…” Comment: Probably done. | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Quote: “…variables were measured at baseline and week 12 in all subjects” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Stringer 1998 | Yes | Quote: “… by means of a computer- generated randomization.” Comment: Probably done | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Quote: “Patient who dropped out of the study were uniformly distributed among the three groups.” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Study outcome adequately reported. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Terry 1999 | Yes | Quote: “Subject were then randomized to participate…” Comment: Probably done. | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Comment: Missing data adequately accounted for. | Yes | Quote: “Before the program, at 6 weeks and the end of the program blood was collected…” Comment: Probably done. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Terry 2006 | Yes | Quote: “Those who met the inclusion criteria were then randomized to participate” Comment: Probably done. | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Quote: “Compliance with the sessions in both groups was 100%” Comment: Probably done. | Yes | Quote: “Before and after the intervention, 12-h fasting venous blood samples were collected” Comment: Probably done | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Yar’zever 2013 | Yes | Quote: “They were randomly assigned to either…” Comment: Probably done | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | Yes | Comment: No missing data | Yes | Quote: “…dependent variables (CD4 count and viral load) were measured before and after cycle exercise programme” Comment: Probably done. | Yes | Comment: Probably appears to be free from other sources of bias. | Low risk High Quality |
Zanetti 2016 | Yes | Quote: “Then, they were randomly allocated” Comment: Probably done | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: Outcome measurement not likely to be influenced by lack of blinding | No | Comment: Probably not done | Yes | Comment: outcome measured pre and post intervention | No | Comment: Baseline incompatibility. | High risk Low Quality |