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Methodological issues in systematic reviews of headache trials: adapting historical diagnostic classifications and outcome measures to present-day standards.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McCrory, DC; Gray, RN; Tfelt-Hansen, P; Steiner, TJ; Taylor, FR
Published in: Headache
May 2005

Recent efforts to make headache diagnostic classification and clinical trial methodology more consistent provide valuable advice to trialists generating new evidence on effectiveness of treatments for headache; however, interpreting older trials that do not conform to new standards remains problematic. Systematic reviewers seeking to utilize historical data can adapt currently recommended diagnostic classification and clinical trial methodological approaches to interpret all available data relative to current standards. In evaluating study populations, systematic reviewers can: (i) use available data to attempt to map study populations to diagnoses in the new International Classification of Headache Disorders; and (ii) stratify analyses based on the extent to which study populations are precisely specified. In evaluating outcome measures, systematic reviewers can: (i) summarize prevention studies using headache frequency, incorporating headache index in a stratified analysis if headache frequency is not available; (ii) summarize acute treatment studies using pain-free response as reported in directly measured headache improvement or headache severity outcomes; and (iii) avoid analysis of recurrence or relapse data not conforming to the sustained pain-free response definition.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Headache

DOI

ISSN

0017-8748

Publication Date

May 2005

Volume

45

Issue

5

Start / End Page

459 / 465

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Review Literature as Topic
  • Research Design
  • Recurrence
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Migraine Disorders
  • Humans
  • 3209 Neurosciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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McCrory, D. C., Gray, R. N., Tfelt-Hansen, P., Steiner, T. J., & Taylor, F. R. (2005). Methodological issues in systematic reviews of headache trials: adapting historical diagnostic classifications and outcome measures to present-day standards. Headache, 45(5), 459–465. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05097.x
McCrory, Douglas C., Rebecca N. Gray, Peer Tfelt-Hansen, Timothy J. Steiner, and Frederick R. Taylor. “Methodological issues in systematic reviews of headache trials: adapting historical diagnostic classifications and outcome measures to present-day standards.Headache 45, no. 5 (May 2005): 459–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05097.x.
McCrory, Douglas C., et al. “Methodological issues in systematic reviews of headache trials: adapting historical diagnostic classifications and outcome measures to present-day standards.Headache, vol. 45, no. 5, May 2005, pp. 459–65. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05097.x.
Journal cover image

Published In

Headache

DOI

ISSN

0017-8748

Publication Date

May 2005

Volume

45

Issue

5

Start / End Page

459 / 465

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Review Literature as Topic
  • Research Design
  • Recurrence
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Migraine Disorders
  • Humans
  • 3209 Neurosciences