Losing faith: the patients waiting years for specialist pain treatment

Abstract

Level of evidence 1++ High-quality meta-analyses, systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or RCTs with a very low risk of bias. 1+ Well-conducted meta-analyses, systematic reviews or RCTs with a low risk of bias. 1-Meta-analyses, systematic reviews or RCTs with a high risk of bias. 2++ High-quality systematic reviews of case control or cohort studies. High-quality case control or cohort studies with a very low risk of confounding or bias and a high probability that the relationship is causal. 2+ Well-conducted case control or cohort studies with a low risk of confounding or bias and a moderate probability that the relationship is causal. 2-Case control or cohort studies with a high risk of confounding or bias and a significant risk that the relationship is not causal. 3 Non-analytic studies, e.g. case reports, case series. 4 Expert opinion.