Table 3.

Summary of the quality assessment for the included studies

First author, year of publication (reference)	Jefferies et al. 2009 [37]	Brownfoot et al. 2016 [38]
Validity questions
1. Was the research question clearly stated?	Y	Y
2. Was the selection of study subjects/patients free from bias?	Y	Y
3. Were study groups comparable?	Y	Y
4. Was method of handling withdrawals described?	Y	Y
5. Was blinding used to prevent introduction of bias?	Y	Y
6. Were intervention/exposure factor or procedure and any comparison(s) described in detail?	N	Y
7. Were outcomes clearly defined and the measurements valid and reliable?	Y	Y
8. Was the statistical analysis appropriate for the study design and type of outcome indicators?	Y	Y
9. Were conclusions supported by results with biases and limitations taken into consideration?	Y	Y
10. Is bias due to study’s funding or sponsorship unlikely?	Y	Y
Overall quality	N	P

American Dietetic Association Quality Criteria Checklist for Primary Research, Y yes, N no,

P, positive rating; N neural rating