Sample size, mean and standard deviation are necessary when conducting meta-analysis for continuous outcomes. Advanced methods of data extraction were needed if the mean and the standard deviation couldn’t be obtained from a literature directly. Eight methods were introduced and two examples were given to illustrate how to apply the methods.
The sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) is an individualized medical model that adjusts intervention strategies in real time based on individual characteristics and stage-specific efficacy, applying to dynamic treatment regimens (DTRs) of "treatment based on syndrome differentiation" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Focusing on two-stage asymmetric SMART designs with continuous outcomes, this paper reviews sample size estimation methods for four research objectives (comparing first-stage main effects, comparing second-stage main effects, comparing two DTRs, and selecting the optimal DTR), and details calculation formulas and parameters. Integrating the characteristics of TCM clinical research, this paper analyzes methodological considerations regarding parameter setting, dynamic decision logic, and tailoring variable selection within the context of syndrome differentiation. Finally, a TCM insomnia treatment example demonstrates the application. This study aims to provide a methodological reference for conducting SMART designs in TCM research, guiding researchers to estimate sample sizes accurately.