• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2017

Objectives : This review aims to evaluate a risk of bias by risk of bias tool and RoBANS(Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study) tool for clinical trial papers proving treatment effect of Korean medicines to alopecia and provides the newest reason of effectiveness of herbs to alopecia. Methods : Data were collected through electronic database including NDSL, KISS, KMBASE, Koreantk, OASIS, KoreaMed, KISTI, Pubmed, Cochrane CENTRAL and CINAHL. Two experts in Oriental Medicine assessed risk of bias of randomized controlled trials by Cochrane group's Risk of Bias tool and non-randomized controlled trials by RoBANS tool after searching, reviewing and selecting papers. Results : Total number of selected trials is 20 including 4 randomized controlled trial, 13 non-randomized controlled trials and 3 case reports. This study evaluate the risk of bias of 17 papers including 4 randomized controlled trials and 13 non-randomized controlled trials except 3 case reports by risk of bias tool and RoBANS tool. All papers of randomized controlled trials are evaluated unclear for random sequence generation and allocation concealment as there are no word on them. And all papers of non-randomized controlled trials are evaluated unclear for blinding of outcome assessments and relatively low for others. Conclusions : Korean medicine intervention can be an effective for treatment in alopecia. It was evaluated by hair density, thickness and expert panel assessment of photographs and all results are statistically significant. But enhancing levels of evidence, we must try to reduce bias in researches and report a safety, protocol and IRB.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2015

Objective : This study aims to evaluate a risk of bias by Risk of Bias tool and RoBANS(Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study) tool for clinical trial papers proving treatment effect of herbs to alopecia and provides the newest reason of effectiveness of herbs to alopecia. Methos : Data were collected through electronic database including NDSL, KISS, KMBASE, Koreantk, OASIS, KoreaMed, KISTI, Pubmd, Cochrane CENTRAL and CINAHL. Two experts in Oriental Medince assessed risk of bias of randomized controlled trials by Cochrane group's Risk of Bias tool and non-randomized controlled trials by RoBANS tool after searching, reviewing and selecting papers. Results : Total number of selected trials is 20 including 4 randomized controlled trials, 13 non-randomized controlled trials and 3 case reports. This study evaluates the risk of bias of 17 papers including 4 randomized controlled trials and 13 non-randomized controlled trials except 3 case reports by risk of bias tool and RoBANS tool. All papers of randomized controlled trials are evaluated unclear for random sequence generation and allocation concealment as there are no word on them. And all papers of non-randomized controlled trials are evaluated unclear for blinding of outcome assessments and relatively low for others. Conclusion : We must try to specify concretely methods of allocation concealment after planning and practicing it for reducing a selection bias in randomized controlled trials. Also report a reason of missing value and blinding outcome assessments. And we have to agonize and mention methods of blinding of researchers for reducing a detection bias in non-randomized controlled trials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.166-181
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• 2017

Objectives : The study was done to verify the relation between early-onset androgenetic alopecia(AGA) and metabolic syndrome(MetS). Methods : Data were collected through electronic database including KoreaMed, National Assembly Library, KMBASE, NDSL, KCI, KERIS, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Cochrane CENTRAL and EBSCO MEDLINE. A total of 13 case-control studies related to the MetS of early-onset alopecia patients were used for the systematic review and meta-analysis. Risk of bias of included studies were assessed by RoBANS tool. RevMan5.3, CMA3 were used for the meta-analysis. Results : In 13 evaluated articles, most frequent bias was the participant selection bias that was found in 10 articles. Significant association between early-onset AGA and MetS was found in 10(76.9%) out of 13 articles in the systematic review. In meta-analysis, early-onset male AGA was associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome(OR: 3.73, 95% CI:2.49 -5.61). Conclusions : AGA, particularly early -onset male AGA, is significantly associated with MetS. Therefore all patients with early onset male AGA should be suggested to take preventive treatment to reduce the risk of MetS and various problems associated with it.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.71-81
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• 2022

Purpose : This study aimed to present evidence by analyzing the characteristics and effectiveness of group art therapy interventions through an examination of domestic studies on group art therapy for older people with dementia. Methods : The database used DBpia, Riss, and Google Scholar, and the research period was from 2016 to November 2021. For the selected studies, the level of evidence was analyzed, bias evaluation was performed, and patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome were analyzed. For the evaluation of bias, the risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study (RoBANS) and Cochrane's risk of bias (RoB) were used. Results : As for the level of evidence of the included studies, level I consisted of five studies, and levels II and III each had one article. As a result of the bias evaluation of five studies through RoB, a "low risk of bias" was found for incomplete result data, selective result reporting, and others, except for four unclear evaluation areas. The "low risk of bias" ratio was 0~25 % in the evaluation of bias in two studies through RoBANS. For the evaluation tool, cognitive evaluation tool was used the most while mini-mental state examination-Korea was used the most frequently. For the intervention method, the most frequently used was group art therapy that employed recall in three studies, while collage, Korean painting, use of paper media, and procedural memory were used in each of the other studies. Each intervention was found to be significantly effective overall. Conclusion : This study provided clinical evidence by systematically reporting research on group art therapy for older people with dementia. In the future, it is necessary to check the effect of group art therapy on various areas other than cognition for older people with dementia. Moreover, the study should be conducted with the risk of bias sufficiently taken into consideration.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2020

A total of 1,235 studies were retrieved on June 23, 2019, from 3 databases. Selected 59 studies were evaluated by year of publication, study type, subject condition/disease, acupoint, standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of moxibustion (STRICTOM), Cochrane risk of bias (RoB), and risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study (RoBANS). Most studies were conducted in 2011, after which the number of studies decreased. The most common study type was 25 case reports (CR), 16 uncontrolled clinical trials (UCT), 11 randomized controlled trials (RCT), and 7 controlled clinical trials (CCT). Moxibustion treatment was mainly used for musculoskeletal and circulatory diseases/conditions. A total of 83 acupoints were used, A-shi points being the most used. As for STRICTOM, an average of 7.4 items were satisfactory for UCT and CR without a control group, and an average of 9.4 items were satisfactory for RCT and CCT. RCT was assessed using the RoB, and many items were rated as uncertain. In this study, the need for RCT of moxibustion treatment in Korea was identified. The detailed description of study methods and results will provide evidence for the efficacy of moxibustion treatment in preventive and therapeutic aspects of Korean traditional medicine.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.116-126
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• 2020

This study analyzed the effects of auricular acupressure on improving sleep disorders of the elderly. The data was collected from domestic and foreign databases. The keywords were 'auricular,' 'sleep,' 'insomnia, and so on. RoB and RoBANS were used to evaluate the risk of bias in the selected literature. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Seven of 386 studies were selected. Regarding the sleep score, those studies with an intervention period of less than four weeks showed WMD of 25.66 (95% CI; 20.18 to 31.14), which was significantly higher than that of the control group. Similarly, the studies with an intervention period longer than four weeks had significantly higher WMD than that of the control group, and the former exhibited WMD of 8.59 (95% CI: 6.26 to 10.92). In contrast, sleep satisfaction was significantly higher in the studies with a maintenance period of three days or less, which resulted in SMD of 13.37 (95% CI: 5.29 to 21.45). The score in the studies with a maintenance period longer than four days was significantly higher than that of the control group with SMD of 2.27 (95% CI: 1.82 to 2.72). Auricular acupressure was effective in alleviating sleep disorders among the elderly in terms of both sleep quality and sleep satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.429-439
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• 2020

This study examined the effect size of virtual reality programs on the upper extremity function of stroke patients through a meta-analysis. Databases, such as the Research Information Sharing Service, the Korean Studies Information Service System, the National Library of Korea, the Korean Citation Index, and the National Digital Science Library, were used. Previous articles were surveyed for virtual reality programs between January 2010 and June 2019. A meta-analysis was performed by selecting the final 14 studies based on the PICO standard. The RoB and RoBANS tools were used as quality assessment tools for randomized and non-randomized control trials, respectively. The CMA 3.0 program was used to calculate the effect size of each study. Sub-group analysis, meta-regression analysis, and publication bias were performed. The total effect size of the virtual reality programs on the upper extremity function was Hedges's g=0.390 (95% CI: 0.192~0.587) (p<.05). The virtual reality program positively affects the upper extremity function of stroke patients. Therefore, the development of various virtual reality programs and industry-academia cooperation technology for stroke patients is required in accordance with the fourth industry. Randomized control trials and detailed upper extremity function studies for virtual reality programs will be needed in follow-up studies.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.165-182
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to understand clinical usefulness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on students' mental health. Methods: Ten databases were included to extract clinical studies on effects of EFT intervention with students. Characteristics of selected studies were described, and biases were assessed with Risk of Bias (RoB) or Risk of Bias Assessment for Non-Randomized Studies (RoBANS). Results: A total of 14 clinical trials were extracted for analysis. There were 8 randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), 2 non-randomized-controlled trials (nRCTs), and 4 before-after studies. EFT have significant clinical usefulness in public speaking anxiety, test anxiety, stress, depression, learning related emotions, adolescent anxiety, and eating issues. The risk of selection bias in most studies was high or uncertain. Conclusions: EFT is an effective clinical technique for managing students' mental health issues. However, the included studies have been conducted with relatively poor quality and small sample size. Clinical trials with high quality study design and well-designed EFT education programs are needed to generalize clinical usefulness.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was carried out to assess the risk of bias of clinical trials on acne treatment with herbal medicine that have been published in Korea. Methods : 7 electronic databases in Korea were searched for clinical trials on acne treatment. Two independent reviewers selected clinical trials on herbal medicine treatment for acne. Selected studies are categorized according to DAMI(Study Design Algorithm for Medical literature of Intervention). RCTs are assessed according to Cochrane RoB(Risk of Bias), non-randomized studies(Before-after studies) are assessed according to RoBANS(Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study). Results : After selection process, 25 articles are left. Among 25 articles, 3 RCTs and 4 before-after studies are finally included. In RCTs, the proportion of 'unclear' is high in criteria of 'random sequence generation', 'allocation concealment', and 'blinding'. In before-after studies, 'high' is high in criteria of 'blinding for outcome assessment' and 'incomplete outcome data'. Conclusions : Considering the above results of the assessment, it is necessary to conduct more well designed clinical trials on acne treatment with herbal medicine.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to review previous literature to determine the effects of nature-based program for workers. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency's guidance for undertaking systematic reviews for intervention. Literature search was performed using National Assembly Digital Library, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Korea Education & Research Information Service for literature published until March 2019. The participants were full-time workers, and intervention of nature-based programs was conducted in the outdoor, indoor, and indirect nature contact exposures, with comparators in the control group who did not receive the treatment. The results showed that the programs were effective in physical, psychological, and social health. The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias(RoB) tool, while non-randomized controlled trials (N-RCT) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studuies (RoBANS). A total of 16 studies were selected for assessment: two RCTs, 10 N-RCTs, and four one-group pretest-posttest designs. Most interventions were provided at the workplace and in the community. There were many kinds of nature-based interventions, and forest therapy and horticultural therapy programs were most common. Various interventions for workers effectively improved job stress, depression, serum cortisol and stress-response. However, the included studies lacked methodological rigor. Future research is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of nature-based programs for workers using rigorous research designs.