Table 1.

Quality assessment.

Study type	Methodological quality criteria
All study designs	Are there clear research questions/objectives?
	Do the data collected allow research questions to be appropriately addressed?
Qualitative studies	Are the sources of data relevant to address the research question?
	Is the process for analyzing data relevant to address the research question?
	Is appropriate consideration given to how findings relate to the context, e.g. the setting in which the data were collected?
	Is appropriate consideration given to how findings relate to the researcher’s influence, e.g. through their interactions with participants?
Quantitative studies	Is the sampling strategy relevant to address the research questions?
	Is the sample representative of the population under the study?
	Are measurements appropriate (clear origin or validity known or standard instrument)?
	Is there an acceptable response rate (60% or more)?
Mixed methods	Is the mixed methods design relevant to address the qualitative and quantitative research questions?
	Is the integration of qualitative and quantitative data relevant to address the research questions?
	Is appropriate consideration given to the limitations associated with this integration, e.g. the divergence of quantitative and qualitative data in a triangulation design?