Tools of quality assessment in included meta-analyses
| Quality assessment | Number (%), of n=607 | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| NOS | 39 (6.3) | 4.7 to 8.7 |
| CASP | 19 (3.1) | 2 to 4.9 |
| Cochrane scale | 12 (2.0) | 1.1 to 3.4 |
| STROBE* | 29 (4.8) | 3.3 to 6.8 |
| Others | 218 (36.0) | 32.2 to 39.8 |
| Not reported/not performed | 290 (47.8) | 43.8 to 51.8 |
*The STROBE was not a tool for assessing the quality of published observational studies.
CASP, critical appraisal skill programme; NOS, Newcastle-Ottawa scale; STROBE, Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology.