ObjectiveTo examine the overall treatment effect and the proportion attributable to contextual effect (PCE) in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of diverse treatments for osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsWe searched Medline, Embase, Central, Science Citation Index, AMED and CINAHL through October 2014, supplemented with manual search of reference lists, published meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Included were RCTs in OA comparing placebo with representative complementary, pharmacological, non-pharmacological and surgical treatments. The primary outcome was pain. Secondary outcomes were function and stiffness. The effect size (ES) of overall treatment effect and the PCE were pooled using random-effects model. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were conducted to examine determinants of the PCE.ResultsIn total, 215 trials (41 392 participants) were included. The overall treatment effect for pain ranged from the smallest with lavage (ES=0.46, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.68) to the largest with topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ES=1.37, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.55). On average, 75% (PCE=0.75, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.79) of pain reduction was attributable to contextual effect. It varied by treatment from 47% (PCE=0.47, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.70) for intra-articular corticosteroid to 91% (PCE=0.91, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.37) for joint lavage. Similar results were observed for function and stiffness. Treatment delivered by needle/injection and other means than oral medication, longer duration of treatment, large sample size (≥100 per arm) and public funding source were associated with increased PCE for pain reduction.ConclusionsThe majority (75%) of the overall treatment effect in OA RCTs is attributable to contextual effects rather than the specific effect of treatments. Reporting overall treatment effect and PCE, in addition to traditional ES, permits a more balanced, clinically meaningful interpretation of RCT results. This would help dispel the frequent discordance between conclusions from RCT evidence and clinical experience—the ‘efficacy paradox’.

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The LMA Supreme has lower oropharyngeal leak pressures than the LMA ProSeal. The success of the first attempt insertion was higher for the LMA Supreme. The LMA Supreme is a safe, efficacious and easy-to-use disposable supraglottic airway device in elective ambulatory procedures. The higher rate of success on first attempt insertion may make it more suitable as an airway rescue device.

The opposing relationships of height with CVD and cancer suggest that care is required in setting national policies on childhood nutrition lest they have unintended consequences on the incidence of major non-communicable diseases.