Study identification (Include author, title, year of publication, journal title, pages)

Guideline topic:

Checklist completed by:

In a well conducted systematic review

In this study this criterion is:

1.1

The study addresses an appropriate and clearly focused question.

Well covered

Adequately addressed

Poorly addressed

Not addressed

Not reported

Not applicable

1.2

A description of the methodology used is included.

Well covered

Adequately addressed

Poorly addressed

Not addressed

Not reported

Not applicable

1.3

The literature search is sufficiently rigorous to identify all the relevant studies.

Well covered

Adequately addressed

Poorly addressed

Not addressed

Not reported

Not applicable

1.4

Study quality is assessed and taken into account.

Well covered

Adequately addressed

Poorly addressed

Not addressed

Not reported

Not applicable

1.5

There are enough similarities between the studies selected to make combining them reasonable.

Well covered

Adequately addressed

Poorly addressed

Not addressed

Not reported

Not applicable

2.1

How well was the study done to minimise bias?

Code ++, +, or -

2.2

If coded as +, or - what is the likely direction in which bias might affect the study results?