Table 3.
Evaluation of systematic reviews and systematic reviews with meta-analysis with the Modified Quality Assessment Scale for Systematic Reviews.
| Studies | Belavy et al., 2021 [20] | Bonello et al., 2021 [33] | Hall et al., 2020 [21] | Karanasios et al. 2023 [35] | Munneke et al., 2020 [32] | Pacheco-Barrios et al., 2020 [22] | Senarath et al., 2022 [31] | Tan et al., 2022 [34] | Wewege et al., 2021 [23] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Were the search methods used to find evidence (original research) on the primary question(s) stated? | Explicitly described to allow replication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | In Part | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Was the search for evidence comprehensive? | Adequate number and range of databases | Yes | Yes | In Part | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alternative searches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Adequate range of keywords | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-English language studies | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Were the criteria for deciding which studies to include in the overview reported? | Explicitly described to allow replication | Yes | Yes | In Part | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Excludes reviews that do not adequately address inclusion and exclusion criteria | Yes | Yes | Yes | In Part | Yes | Yes | In Part | In Part | Yes | |
| Was bias in the selection of articles avoided? | Two independent reviewers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Were the criteria used for assessing the quality of included studies reported? | Explicitly described to allow replication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Were the methods used to combine and/or compare the findings of relevant studies appropriate? | Meta-analysis conducted on only homogenous data or limitations to homogeneity discussed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | In Part |
| Confidence intervals/effect sizes reported where possible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | In part | Yes | In Part | Yes | |
| Were conclusions made by the author(s) appropriate? | Supported by the meta-analysis or other data analysis findings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | In Part | Yes |
| Conclusions address levels of evidence for each intervention/comparison | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Total | 26 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | |