Table 5.

Summary across reports of systematic reviews adhering to OQAQ items (N = 26)

Item assessed	Item description	No. of reports reporting adherence by item	Adhering SRs	Total SRs	%
1. Information sources	Were the search methods used to find evidence reported?	22	1027	1387	74
2. Search	Was the search strategy for evidence reasonably comprehensive?	22	754	1370	55
3. Study selection	Were the criteria used for deciding which studies to include in the overview reported?	22	1112	1387	80
4. Risk of bias in individual studies	Were criteria used for assessing validity of the included studies reported?	22	499	1367	37
5. Synthesis of results	Were findings of the relevant studies combined appropriately relative to the primary question addressed?	22	830	1387	60
6. Results: study selection	Was bias in the selection of studies avoided?	22	740	1351	55
7. Synthesis of results	Were methods used to combine the findings of relevant studies (to reach a conclusion) reported?	22	1005	1387	73
8. Limitations	Was the validity of all studies referred to in the text assessed using appropriate criteria (either in selecting studies for inclusion or in analyzing studies that are cited)?	22	898	1363	66
9. Conclusions	Were the conclusions made by the author (s) supported by the data and/or analysis reported in the overview?	22	1076	1387	78