Table 1 Methodological themes from the literature review, and shortcomings detrimental to quality
Theme | Methodological issue | Potential impact on quality |
|---|---|---|
Study design | Inappropriately selected for overall purpose | Very high |
Unsuited to secondary purpose(s) | Low | |
Population of interest | Inappropriately selected for purpose | Very high |
Inadequately defined | High or very high | |
Sampling method (including means of access) | Systematically bias generating | Moderate to high |
Inadequately reported | High | |
Sample size | Inadequate for purpose | Low to high |
Non-participation | Excessively reducing sample size | Low to high |
Bias generating | Moderate to high | |
Inadequately reported | High or very high | |
Case definition | Not according to accepted diagnostic criteria | Moderate to high |
Inadequately reported | High or very high | |
Applying inappropriate or undefined timeframe | High or very high | |
Case ascertainment | Not according to accepted diagnostic criteria | Moderate to high |
Employing unvalidated diagnostic methods | Moderate to high | |
Inadequately reported | High | |
Burden estimation | Not relevant | Low to moderate |
Not comprehensive | Low | |
Reporting | Not adequately descriptive of methods | Low to high |
Not adequately descriptive of results | Moderate to high |