Data extraction and management
Two review authors (XLY, BYW) independently extracted data
using a standardised form. A third review author (MY) checked
the extracted data. Extracted data included, where possible:
• description of participants (including age, gender, type of
pneumonia);
• severity of pneumonia;
• basic conditions and setting;
• description of intervention (details of chest physiotherapy,
including type, frequency, intensity and time);
• description of control therapy;
• methodological details (including design and recruitment);
• method of randomisation;
• sample size;
• trial inclusion and exclusion criteria;
• withdrawals;
• description of outcomes (including mortality, duration of
hospital stay, adverse events, cure, healing time, rate of clearing
of X-ray film and duration of fever); and
• source of funding.