Table 1. Quality items included for quality assessment, source from which the quality item was obtained, and number of publications that had a positive quality score, per quality item.

Item code	Source	Quality item
A	Delphi list	Was a method of randomization used?
B	Added by authors†	Was the period of outcome measurements equal among all groups?
C	Considered for Delphi list	Is it unlikely that compliance may explain differences between groups?
D	Added by authors	Are side effects reported?
E	Delphi list‡	Were inclusion criteria specified?
F	Delphi list‡	Were exclusion criteria specified?
G	Considered for Delphi list	Are the interventions described explicitly?
H	Delphi list	Were the groups similar at baseline regarding the most important prognostic indicators?
I	Delphi list	Was the patient masked to the treatment?
G	Considered for Delphi list	Was calculation of statistical power reported after allocation to the treatment?
K	Delphi list	Was an intention-to-treat analysis performed?
L	Delphi list	Was the treatment allocation concealed?
M	Delphi list	Was the outcome assessor blinded?
N	Delphi list	Was the care provider blinded?

^†The authors added items to improve interpretations of liver cirrhosis measurements.

^‡Item split into inclusion and exclusion criteria.