Table 2 Summary of sub-group and sensitivity analyses results
Analysis type | Dimension | Subgroup type/exclusion criteria | Number of studies | Pooled prevalence (95% CI) | Heterogeneity (I², p-value) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-group analysis | EE (dichotomous data) | Region (Western Asia) | 4 | 55% (21–89) | I² = 99.55%, p < 0.001 |
Income group (Lower-middle income) | 5 | 32% (6–57) | I² = 99.35%, p < 0.001 | ||
Income group (Upper-middle income) | 11 | 42% (24–53) | I² = 99.60%, p < 0.001 | ||
Specialties (mixed) | 6 | 52% (34–69) | I² = 99.56%, p < 0.001 | ||
Overall | 16 | 49% (38–60) | I² = 99.28%, p < 0.001 | ||
DP (dichotomous data) | Region (Western Asia) | 4 | 36% (10–63) | I² = 99.33%, p < 0.001 | |
Income group (Lower-middle income) | 5 | 32% (6–57) | I² = 99.35%, p < 0.001 | ||
Income group (Upper-middle income) | 11 | 42% (27–57) | I² = 99.60%, p < 0.001 | ||
Specialties (mixed) | 5 | 37% (24–50) | I² = 99.21%, p < 0.001 | ||
Overall | 15 | 39% (24–53) | I² = 99.72%, p < 0.001 | ||
|  | PA (dichotomous data) | Region (Western Asia) | 4 | 63% (37–89) | I² = 99.13%, p < 0.001 |
Income group (Lower-middle income) | 5 | 32% (23–41) | I² = 89.38%, p < 0.001 | ||
Income group (Upper-middle income) | 11 | 58% (47–70) | I² = 99.19%, p < 0.001 | ||
Specialties (mixed) | 5 | 41% (31–51) | I² = 98.47%, p < 0.001 | ||
Overall | 15 | 50% (41–59) | I² = 98.88%, p < 0.001 | ||
Depression - measured by PHQ- 9 (dichotomous data) | Region (South Asia) | 5 | 71% (56–85) | I² = 96.56%, p < 0.001 | |
Region (South America) | 5 | 44% (30–58) | I² = 96.94%, p < 0.001 | ||
Region (East Asia) | 5 | 39% (29–49) | I² = 99.38%, p < 0.001 | ||
Income group (Lower-middle income) | 10 | 66% (41–91) | I² = 99.80%, p < 0.001 | ||
Income group (Upper-middle income) | 9 | 49% (34–64) | I² = 99.51%, p < 0.001 | ||
Specialties (mixed) | 15 | 63% (46–80) | I² = 99.73%, p < 0.001 | ||
Overall | 21 | 58% (46–70) | I² = 99.71%, p < 0.001 | ||
Sensitivity analysis | EE (dichotomous data) | exclusion of studies, where respondents were not only qualified physicians and/or dentists | 12 | 48% (29–67) | I² = 99.41%, p < 0.001 |
DP (dichotomous data) | 11 | 37% (20–53) | I² = 99.39%, p < 0.001 | ||
|  | PA (dichotomous data) | 11 | 55% (39–70) | I² = 98.77%, p < 0.001 | |
EE (continuous data) | 7 | 24.56% (24.22–24.90) | I² = 98.4%, p < 0.001 | ||
DP (continuous data) | 7 | 9.22% (9.03–9.41) | I² = 97.7%, p < 0.001 | ||
PA (continuous data) | 7 | 27.10% (26.77–27.43) | I² = 99.8%, p < 0.001 | ||
Depression - measured by PHQ- 9 (dichotomous data) | 8 | 46% (31–61) | I² = 99.2%, p < 0.001 | ||
Depression - measured by DASS- 21 (dichotomous data) | 6 | 53% (32–75) | I² = 99.67%, p < 0.001 | ||
Depression - measured by PHQ- 9 (continuous data) | 2 | 3.33% (3.25–3.41) | I² = 97.7%, p < 0.001 | ||
Depression - measured by DASS- 21 (continuous data) | 4 | 14.34% (14.12–14.56) | I² = 98.9%, p < 0.001 | ||
Depression - measured by PHQ- 9 (dichotomous data) | exclusion of studies, where the type of healthcare setting was not reported | 16 | 61% (46–76) | I² = 99.69%, p < 0.001 | |
Depression - measured by HADS- 14 (dichotomous data) | 3 | 42% (22–62) | I² = 96.69%, p < 0.001 | ||
Depression - measured by PHQ- 9 (continuous data) | 3 | 3.88% (3.81–3.95) | I² = 99.8%, p < 0.001 |