Table 2.
Quality assessment of the studies reviewed studies.
| Author, year | Was a random or pseudo random sample used? | Was the inclusion criteria clearly defined? | Were confounding factors identified and control strategies stated? | Were outcomes assessed using objective criteria | Was there sufficient description of the groups? | Was follow up carried out over a sufficient time period? | Were the outcomes of people who withdrew described and included in analysis? | Were outcomes measured in a reliable way? | Was appropriate statistical analysis used? | Quality score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRUNAULT 2014 [32] | UC | N | UC | Y | UC | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 1 |
| BURGESS 2014 [33] | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 6 |
| DAVIS 2014 [34] | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | UC | Y | Y | 6 |
| FLINT 2014 [35] | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y | 8 |
| GEARHARDT 2014 [36] | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 6 |
| IMPERATORI 2014 [37] | N | Y | Y | Y | UC | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 3 |
| LENT 2014 [38] | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y | 6 |
| MEULE 2014 [40] | Y | Y | UC | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y | 6 |
| MEULE 2014 [41] | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 5 |
| MURPHY 2014 [43] | Y | N | Y | Y | N/A | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 4 |
| PEPINO 2014 [44] | N | Y | UC | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 5 |
| BURMEISTER 2013 [45] | Y | Y | UC | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 |
| CLARK 2013 [46] | UC | N | UC | Y | N/A | N/A | Y | Y | Y | 2 |
| DAVIS 2013 [47] | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 6 |
| EICHEN 2013 [39] | N | UC | Y | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 3 |
| GEARHARDT 2013 [48] | Y | N | Y | Y | N/A | N/A | N | Y | Y | 5 |
| GEARHARDT 2013 [49] | Y | Y | UC | Y | Y | N/A | N | Y | Y | 5 |
| MASON 2013 [50] | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 5 |
| PEDRAM 2013 [51] | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 6 |
| GEARHARDT 2012 [27] | Y | N | UC | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 3 |
| MEULE 2012 [56] | N | N | UC | Y | N/A | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 1 |
| MEULE 2012 [42] | Y | Y | UC | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | Y | 4 |
| MEULE 2012 [53] | Y | N | UC | Y | Y | N/A | N | Y | Y | 4 |
| MEULE 2012 [54] | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N/A | N | Y | Y | 6 |
| DAVIS 2011 [57] | Y | Y | UC | Y | Y | N/A | UC | Y | UC | 2 |
| GEARHARDT 2011 [11] | UC | Y | Y | Y | N | N/A | N | Y | Y | 4 |
| GEARHARDT 2009 [26] | Y | N | UC | Y | N/A | N/A | N | Y | Y | 3 |