Table 1.
Quality assessment of articles selected for appraisal in this systematic review
| Methodological quality item | Bini and Hume,18 (2014) | Bailey et al,17 (2003) | Bini et al,23 (2013) | Dieter et al,19 (2014) | Farrell et al,24 (2003) | Moore and Krabak,21 (2007) | Priego Quesada et al,26 (2017) | Swart et al,22 (2008) | Wheeler et al,20 (1995) | Gregersen et al,25 (2006) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study design criteria | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Clear experimental controls used | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Prospective study completed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blinding of assessors and subjects used | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clear description of subjects/group | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Balanced baselines between groups or stable across single subject | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Target behaviors observable and measurable | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Clear description of intervention methods | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Attrition rate explained or minimal (<20%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Clear description of observable or measurable outcomes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Statistical analysis described or conducted appropriately | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Appropriate reliability methods described or used | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Appropriate validity methods described or used | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clear conclusions drawn from results | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Clear description of follow-up and maintenance outcomes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total score | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 10 |
Notes: Quality of articles was assessed using a scale described by Agresta and Brown,15 which comprises 16 elements worth 20 points in total.