This meta-analysis was carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist (Moher et al., 2009 ). First, six online
academic databases were searched for papers published in English, with no
publication restrictions, including Medline, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of
Science, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register until January 2022. The search
keywords were a combination of free text and controlled vocabulary (i.e., MeSH
terms) for each database, including “tamsulosin, tadalafil, LUTS, BPH and
randomized controlled trial (RCT).”
Then, using Endnote X9 software (Clarivate, PA, USA), we deleted duplicates from
the list of literatures retrieved in the first step. The following studies were
excluded: reviews, editorials, book or book chapters, commentaries, conference
papers, brief communications, articles with no complete text, studies that used
qualitative methods only or interventional research. If multiple papers analyzed
the same data set, the article with the most data was selected.
Third, articles were separately reviewed by two researchers who examined the
title and abstract, followed by the full text if the paper matched the inclusion
criteria. A third researcher would include or exclude papers in the event of a
disagreement between the two researchers.
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist (Moher et al., 2009 ). First, six online
academic databases were searched for papers published in English, with no
publication restrictions, including Medline, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of
Science, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register until January 2022. The search
keywords were a combination of free text and controlled vocabulary (i.e., MeSH
terms) for each database, including “tamsulosin, tadalafil, LUTS, BPH and
randomized controlled trial (RCT).”
Then, using Endnote X9 software (Clarivate, PA, USA), we deleted duplicates from
the list of literatures retrieved in the first step. The following studies were
excluded: reviews, editorials, book or book chapters, commentaries, conference
papers, brief communications, articles with no complete text, studies that used
qualitative methods only or interventional research. If multiple papers analyzed
the same data set, the article with the most data was selected.
Third, articles were separately reviewed by two researchers who examined the
title and abstract, followed by the full text if the paper matched the inclusion
criteria. A third researcher would include or exclude papers in the event of a
disagreement between the two researchers.
