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. 2014 May 26;16(5):e134. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3393

Table 1.

HIV prevention intervention quality assessment tool.


Completely adequate (%) Partially adequate (%) Inadequate, not stated, or impossible to tell (%)
Representativeness All key characteristics of study population described (50) Some key characteristics described (25) Minimal to no description of key characteristics and inclusion/exclusion criteria (0)
Detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria described (50) Some description of inclusion/exclusion criteria (25)
Bias and confounding Study population corresponded to larger population in all key factors (25) Sample population differed in some minor factors to larger population (12.5) Sample population differed in several key factors to larger population (0)
Equivalent outcome assessment (25) Minor differences in outcome assessment (12.5) Major differences in outcome assessment (0)
Study accounted for confounding interventions with respect to effectiveness of intervention (25) Study only partially accounted for confounding interventions with respect to effectiveness of intervention (12.5) Study did not account for confounding interventions with respect to effectiveness of intervention (0)
Compliance rate >80% (25) Compliance rate between 80-50% (16.7) Compliance rate <50% (8.3)
Description of intervention Protocol could be replicated given description of intervention and /or monitoring (100) Some minor details excluded from explanation of intervention and/or monitoring (66.7) No details given in description of intervention and monitoring (0)
Some major details excluded from explanation of intervention and/or monitoring (33.3)
Outcomes and follow-up Outcome assessment procedure clearly defined (50) Outcome assessment procedure somewhat defined (25) Outcome assessment procedure not defined (0)
Groups equivalent in attrition (50) Some difference in attrition (25) Major difference in attrition (0)
Statistical analysis Statistical methods fully described and appropriate (50) Statistical methods partially described and appropriate (25) Statistical methods not described or absent (0)
Tests addressed differences between groups and variability (50) Tests addressed some differences between groups and variability (25) Did not address differences between groups and variability (0)
Strength of evidence Significant positive intervention effects (100) Significant effect but not in the stated relevant outcome measure (50) No significant intervention effect (0)
Positive and statistically significant (P≤.05) intervention effect in ≥1 relevant outcome measure

Group equivalence Meets all 4 criteria (100) Meets 3 criteria (75) Meets no criteria (0)
1. Include one or more separate control or comparison study groups. Meets 2 criteria (50)
2. Include clear description of study group comparability. Meets 1 criteria (25)
3. Include clear description of randomization method used or rationale for not using randomization technique in instances when it is not feasible

4. Include appropriate statistical controls when equivalence is not achieved