The methodological assessment of selected studies
First author and year of publication | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blasco, 19968 | Camp-Bruno, 19896 | Lewis, 19947 | Mier, 20005 | Reddihough, 19909 | Stern, 199710 | Owen, 199211 | ||
0 = other sub-item satisfied, 1 = item not performed nor described, 2 = item incompletely performed or inappropriately described, 3 = item performed or adequately described. | ||||||||
Research design | Cohort study | RCT | RCT | RCT | Cohort study | Cohort study | Experiment | |
Maximum possible sum score | 54 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 54 | 54 | 60 | |
Internal validity | Scores (minimally required score for specific item) | |||||||
1 | Randomisation | NA | 3 (2) | 2 (2) | 1 (2) | NA | NA | 3 (2) |
2a | Homogeneity of the population | 2 (3) | 3 (2) | 0 (2) | 3 (2) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 2 (2) |
2b | Subgroup analysis | 0 (3) | 0 (2) | 2 (2) | 0 (3) | 0 (3) | 0 (3) | 0 (2) |
3 | Adherence to therapy | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 1 (3) | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) |
4 | Co-intervention control system | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
5 | Standardised outcome measure | 1 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 (2) | 3 (2) | 2 (2) | 2 (2) |
6 | Repeated measurements | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
7 | Intention to treat | NA | 1 (3) | 1 (3) | 1 | NA | NA | 0 (3) |
External validity | ||||||||
8 | Inclusion/exclusion criteria | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 1 (3) |
9 | Description of intervention | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) |
10 | Co-intervention checked | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
11 | Outcome rates listed in text | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 3 (3) |
12 | Description and management of “lost to follow up” | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) |
13 | Number of “lost to follow up” | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) |
14 | Follow up period | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
15 | Side effects | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Data presentation | ||||||||
1 | Adequate sample size | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) |
2 | Mean | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 1 (3) |
3 | Standard deviation | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | 1 (3) |
4 | Statistical method | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
5 | Statistical analysis performed | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |