Criteria for assessment of study quality for quantitative studies
| Information extracted | |
| Study design | Independent sample or paired sample design If independent: whether groups were randomised? |
| Study setting | Community sample, clinics, hospital, other |
| Selection bias | Independent sample: Were participants allocated to each group randomly? Were samples similar in terms of important characteristics? How was randomisation done? Was randomisation done with concealment allocation? Was the study sample described? Paired sample: Were terms randomised? How was randomisation done? Was randomisation done with concealment allocation? Was the study sample described? |
| Performance bias | Were participants kept blind to the study hypothesis? |
| Attrition bias | Was attrition or exclusions (lost to follow-up) reported? |
| Reporting bias | Examination of selective reporting Did the study have a protocol? |
| Measurement bias | Exposure variable—describe the term used Outcome measures—how were outcomes measured? Were they validated or referenced? Confounders—reporting of additional measures and/or demographics |
| Analysis | Were appropriate statistical tests used to analyse data and report results? |