Table 2.

The quality evaluation of the non‐RCT

Studies	A clearly stated aim	Inclusion of consecutive patients	Prospective data collection	Endpoints appropriate to the aim of the study	Unbiased assessment of the study endpoint	A follow‐up period appropriate to the aims of study	Less than 5% loss to follow‐up	Prospective calculation of the sample size	An adequate control group	Contemporary groups	Baseline equivalence of groups	Adequate statistical analyses	Total score
Broome 2014	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	0	2	0	1	1	16
Cien 2015	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	20
Emerson JR 2016	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	2	1	2	2	21
Horn 2015	2	2	2	2	0	2	0	0	2	0	2	2	16
Kirkness 2016	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	20
Sporer 2016	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	0	2	0	2	2	18
Torres 2017	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	0	2	0	2	2	18
Yu 2016	2	2	2	2	0	2	2	0	2	1	2	2	19