Table 3.

Evaluation of scientific reliability of research using scoring criteria: 1-5, 1 indicating poor and 5 as excellent for each component of a study. Calculation of final scores will appear as excellent if it score between 20-30 points, as average if between 10-20 and as poor if <10 scores

Research question	Clearly defined and appropriately answered?
Overall design of study	Adequate, relevant
Participants studied	Adequately described and their conditions defined?
Methods	Adequately described? Ethical issues discussed?
Results	Answer the research question? Credible? Well presented?
Interpretation and conclusions	Warranted by and sufficiently derived from/focused on the data? Message clear?
References	Up to date and relevant? Any glaring omissions?