Table 2.

Appraisal of studies by study design using CASP tools

Quantitative studies (Cohort Study checklist)

Are the results of the study valid?

What are the results?

Will the results help locally?

Article no.

Did the study address a clearly focused issue?

Did the authors use appropriate methods to answer their question?

Was the cohort recruited in an acceptable way?

Was exposure measured to minimise bias?

Was outcome measured to minimise bias?

Have the authors identified all confounding factors?

Have they taken account of the confounding factors in the design and/or analysis?

Was follow up complete?

Are results presented transparently and precisely?

Are the results plausible?

Can the results be applied to the local population?

Do the results fit with other evidence?

Does this study have direct implications for practice?

1

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

2

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

3

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

4

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

5

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

6

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Qualitative studies

Article no. (ref)

Was there a clear statement of the aims of the research?

Is qualitative methodology appropriate?

Was design appropriate to address the aims?

Was the recruitment strategy appropriate to match aims?

Were the data collected in a way that addresses the research issue?

Has the relationship between researcher and participants been adequately considered?

Have ethical issues been taken into consideration?

Was the data analysis sufficiently rigorous?

Is there a clear statement of findings?

Is the research valuable?

7

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Y

8

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

9

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y=Yes; N=No