Table 5.
External validity dimensions for included studies
| External validity dimension | No (%) studies |
|---|---|
| Reach and representiveness of participants | |
| Target population described | 32 (100) |
| Methods to recruit target population described | 23 (72) |
| Individual inclusion and exclusion reported | 23 (72) |
| Enrolment rate | 20 (63) |
| Representiveness of participants described | 3 (9) |
| Reach and representiveness of settings | |
| Target setting described | 32 (100) |
| Methods to recruit target setting described | 2 (6) |
| Setting inclusion and exclusion reported | 6 (9) |
| Setting participation rate | 4 (13) |
| Representiveness of settings described | 0 (0) |
| Implementation and adaptation | |
| Intervention characteristics described | 32 (100) |
| Time to deliver intervention described | 25 (78) |
| Intervention exposure reported | 22 (69) |
| Delivery agent described | 30 (94) |
| Method to recruit delivery agent described | 1 (3) |
| Delivery agent participation rate described | 0 (0) |
| Training of delivery agent described | 11 (34) |
| Intervention fidelity measured | 5 (16) |
| Outcomes for decision makers | |
| Outcomes compared to standards | 26 (81) |
| Adverse consequences reported | 5 (16) |
| Effect moderator by participant characteristics | 5 (16) |
| Effect moderator by setting/delivery agent | 0 (0) |
| Dose response effect of the intervention | 1 (3) |
| Intervention costs or cost effectiveness | 3 (9) |
| Attrition rates reported | 29 (91) |
| Differential attrition rates reported | 7 (22) |
| Representiveness of completers/drop outs | 8 (25) |
| Long term effects (>6 months) | 17 (53) |
| Acceptability | 16 (50) |
| Institutionalisation | 13 (41) |