Table 2.

Quality assessment criteria by study type

Randomised controlled trials all scored as Yes/No/Unclear
Sequence generation	Was the allocation sequence adequately generated?
Allocation concealment	Was allocation adequately concealed?
Blinding	Was knowledge of the allocation intervention adequately concealed from outcome assessors?
Incomplete outcome data-	Was this adequately addressed for each outcome?
Selective outcome reporting	Are reports of the study free of suggestion of selective outcome reporting?
Controlled studies (without randomisation) all scored as Yes/No/Unclear
Baseline results reported	Were baseline results reported for each group?
Groups balanced at baseline	Were there any significant differences in the groups at baseline?
Blinding	Was knowledge of the allocation intervention adequately concealed from outcome assessors?
Incomplete outcome data-	Was this adequately addressed for each outcome?
Selective outcome reporting	Are reports of the study free of suggestion of selective outcome reporting?
Qualitative studies - Scored as fully or mostly, partly or not at all
Scope and purpose	e.g. clearly stated question, clear outline of theoretical framework
Design	e.g. discussion of why particular approach/methods chosen
Sample	e.g. adequate description of sample used and how sample identified and recruited
Data collection	e.g. systematic documentation of tools/guides/researcher role, recording methods explicit
Analysis	e.g. documentation of analytic tools/methods used, evidence of rigorous/systematic analysis
Reliability and validity	e.g. presentation of original data, how categories/concepts/themes developed and were they checked by more than one author, interpretation, how theories developed
Generalisability	e.g. sufficient evidence for generalisability or limits made clear by author
Credibility/plausibility	e.g. provides evidence that resonates with other knowledge, results/conclusions supported by evidence