Table 6. The methodological study quality of case series assessed by IHE checklist.
| Item | (24) | (25) | (4) | (26) | (13) | (14) | (28) | (15) | (22) | (23) | (29) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Was the hypothesis/aim/objective of the study clearly stated? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2. Was the study conducted prospectively? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. Were the cases collected in more than one center? | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4. Were patients recruited consecutively? | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5. Were the characteristics of the patients included in the study described? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 6. Were the eligibility criteria (i.e., inclusion and exclusion criteria) for entry into the study clearly stated? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 7. Did patients enter the study at a similar point in the disease? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 8. Was the intervention of interest clearly described? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 9. Were additional interventions (co-interventions) clearly described? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10. Were relevant outcome measures established a priori? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 11. Were outcome assessors blinded to the intervention that patients received? | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12. Were the relevant outcomes measured using appropriate objective/subjective methods? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 13. Were the relevant outcome measures made before and after the intervention? | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14. Were the statistical tests used to assess the relevant outcomes appropriate? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 15. Was follow-up long enough for important events and outcomes to occur? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 16. Were losses to follow-up reported? | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17. Did the study provided estimates of random variability in the data analysis of relevant outcomes? | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18. Were the adverse events reported? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19. Were the conclusions of the study supported by results? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20. Were both competing interests and sources of support for the study reported? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Overall score (numbers of 1 and 2 divided by 20) | 80% | 75% | 65% | 80% | 55% | 75% | 85% | 60% | 65% | 75% | 65% |
1: yes; 0: no; 2: partial. The numbers in the first row represented reference ID.