Table 6 Outcomes and risk of bias

QoL

8 RCTs [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]

4 NRS [14,15,16,17]

1 CBA [18]

4250

RCTs

1 (some concerns)

7 (high)

NRS

1 (moderate)

3 (serious)

CBA

1 (serious)

Coping

3 RCTs [11, 19, 20]

2 NRS [14, 17]

1399

RCTs

1 (low)

1 (some concerns)

1 (high)

NRS

1 (moderate)

1 (serious)

Satisfaction

5 RCTs [3, 4, 7, 21, 22]

2 NRS [15, 16]

4498

RCTs

1 (low)

4 (high)

NRS

2 (serious)

Functional ability and health status

7 RCTs [4, 8, 11–13, 19, 20]

1 NRS [17]

3335

RCTs

1 (low)

2 (some concerns)

4 (high)

NRS

1 (moderate)

Psychiatric morbidity

7 RCTs [9, 11, 13, 19, 20, 23, 24]

3 NRS [14, 16, 25]

1937

RCTs

1 (low)

1 (some concerns)

5 (high)

NRS

2 (serious)

1 (critical)

Pain

2 RCTs [20, 23]

2 NRS [14, 17]

1237

RCTs

1 (low)

1 (high)

NRS

1 (moderate)

1 (serious)

Managing one’s own health care

1 RCT [19]

150

RCT

1 (some concerns)

Treatment success

2 RCTs [12, 24]

92

RCTs

1 (some concerns)

1 (high)

Therapeutic relationship

2 RCTs [21, 24]

672

RCTs

2 (high)