Table 1 Characteristics of included studies.

Year of publication or substantive update

   Median

2001

   Interquartile range

1999–2001

Focus of the review

   Treatment

52

85.2

   Prevention

7

11.5

   Diagnosis

1

1.6

   Other

1

1.6

Study designs included

   RCT only

33

54.1

   RCT and quasiRCT

24

39.3

   RCT and other controlled trials

4

6.6

Number of included studies per review

   Median

12

   Interquartile range

5.5–19.5

Review Group

   Musculoskeletal Injuries

13

21.3

   Eyes and Vision

11

18.0

   Renal

6

9.8

   Prostatic Diseases and Urologic Cancers

5

8.2

   Back

4

6.6

   Upper Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Diseases

3

4.9

   Skin

3

4.9

   Other

16

30.0