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A systematic overview (meta-analysis) of outcome measures in Helicobacter pylori gastritis trials and functional
1Division of Gastroenterology, Dalhousie University, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada.
Study Aim:
To critically appraise the use of outcome measures in treatment trials of Helicobacter pylori positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients.
Methods:
Meta-analysis of published randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Results:
Significant methodological problems were detected in all seven retrieved studies. There is marked variation in measurement of: symptoms, scales used to assess severity of dyspepsia, use of global assessments and methods used to determine whether a change occurred in symptom severity.
Conclusion:
Much more attention needs to be paid to outcome measures in non-ulcer dyspepsia trials and consensus on this should be reached by investigators in this area.