Table 5

Appendix 1: Search strategies used

Appendix 1: Search strategies used

Phase 1

RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.pt.

CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL.pt.

RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS.sh.

RANDOM ALLOCATION.sh.

DOUBLE BLIND METHOD.sh.

SINGLE-BLIND METHOD.sh.

or/1–6

(ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.

7 not 8

Phase 2

RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.pt.

CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL.pt.

RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS.sh.

RANDOM ALLOCATION.sh.

DOUBLE BLIND METHOD.sh.

SINGLE-BLIND METHOD.sh.

or/1–6

(ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.

18 or/10–17

19 18 not 8

20 19 not 9

Phase 3

21 COMPARATIVE STUDY.sh.

22 exp EVALUATION STUDIES/

23 FOLLOW UP STUDIES.sh.

24 PROSPECTIVE STUDIES.sh.

25 (control$ or prospectiv$ or volunteer$).ti, ab.

26 or/21–25

27 26 not 8

28 27 not (9 or 20)

29 9 or 20 or 28

Test Strategies

All 3 Phases

Subject SS and (9 or 20 or 28)

Top 2 Phases

Subject SS and (9 or 20)

Crossover

Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (crossover.ti, ab. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))

CROSS-OVER STUDIES

Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (CROSS-OVER-STUDIES.sh. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))

Volunteer

Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (volunteer.ti, ab. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))

Versus

Subject SS and (9 or 20 or (versus.ti, ab. not (ANIMAL not HUMAN).sh.))