Additional file 4: Qualityassessmentof included randomisedcontrolled trials(structuredbyyear of publication)

INTERVENTION / SELECTION
BIAS / STUDY
DESIGN / CONFOUNDERS / BLINDING / DATACOLLECTIONMETHODS / WITHDRALWSANDDROPOUTS / GLOBAL
RATING
Christensen2011 / Verylikely
60- 79% Agreement
MODERATE / RCT
Yes YesYes
STRONG / No
N/A
STRONG / No
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Yes
Yes
STRONG / Yes
80-100%
STRONG / STRONG
Strijk 2011 / Verylikely
Lessthan
60% Agreement
WEAK / RCT
Yes YesYes
STRONG / No
N/A
STRONG / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Yes
Yes
STRONG / Yes
60- 79%
MODERATE / MODERATE
Lemon2010 / Verylikely
Lessthan
60% Agreement
WEAK / RCT
Yes YesYes
STRONG / Yes
80–100%
STRONG / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Yes
Yes
STRONG / Yes
60- 79%
MODERATE / MODERATE
Racette2009 / Notlikely
Lessthan
60% Agreement
WEAK / CCT
Yes No N/A
STRONG / Yes
Can’ttell
WEAK / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATRE / Yes
Yes
STRONG / Yes
80-100%
STRONG / WEAK
INTERVENTION / SELECTION
BIAS / STUDY
DESIGN / CONFOUNDERS / BLINDING / DATACOLLECTIONMETHODS / WITHDRALWSANDDROPOUTS / GLOBAL
RATING
VonThiele2008 / Somewhat
likely
80-100% Agreement
MODERATE / CCT
Yes No N/A
STRONG / No
N/A
STRONG / Can’ttell
Yes
MODERATE / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
WEAK / Yes
80-100%
STRONG / MODERATE
Hewitt2008 / Somewhat
likely
Can’ttell
MODERATE / CCT
Yes Yes No
STRONG / No
N/A
STRONG / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Yes
Yes
STRONG / Yes
80-100%
STRONG / STRONG
Aldana2005 / Verylikely
80-100% Agreement
STRONG / RCT
Yes YesYes
STRONG / No n/a
STRONG / Yes
Can’ttell
WEAK / Yes
Yes
STRONG / Yes
80-100%
STRONG / MODERATE
Brox2005 / Notlikely
Lessthan
60% Agreement
WEAK / CCT
Yes No N/A
STRONG / No
n/a
STRONG / No
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
WEAK / No
60- 79%
MODERATE / WEAK
INTERVENTION / SELECTION
BIAS / STUDY
DESIGN / CONFOUNDERS / BLINDING / DATACOLLECTIONMETHODS / WITHDRALWSANDDROPOUTS / GLOBAL
RATING
Armitage2001 / Somewhat likely
Can’ttell
MODERATE / CCT
Yes No N/A
STRONG / Yes
80-100%
STRONG / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Yes
Yes
STRONG / No
60- 79%
MODERATE / MODERATE
Gerdle1995 / Somewhat
likely
80-100% Agreement
MODERATE / CCT
Yes No N/A
STRONG / Yes
Can’ttell
WEAK / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
WEAK / Yes
60- 79%
MODERATE / WEAK
Barratt1994 / Somewhat likely
60- 79% Agreement
MODERATE / CCT
Yes No N/a
STRONG / Can’ttell
N/A
WEAK / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
WEAK / No
60- 79%
MODERATE / WEAK
INTERVENTION / SELECTION
BIAS / STUDY
DESIGN / CONFOUNDERS / BLINDING / DATACOLLECTIONMETHODS / WITHDRALWSANDDROPOUTS / GLOBAL
RATING
Cockroft1994 / Notlikely
Lessthan
60%
agreement
WEAK / CCT
(Individual)
Yes No N/A
STRONG / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
WEAK / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Yes
No
MODERATE / Yes
60- 79%
MODERATE / WEAK
Gamble1993 / Notlikely
80-100% Agreement
WEAK / CCT
Yes No N/A
STRONG / No
N/A
STRONG / Can’ttell
Can’ttell
MODERATE / Yes
Yes
STRONG / N/A
80-100%
STRONG / MODERATE

Abbreviations: RCT = Randomised controlled trial; CCT = Controlled clinical trial;

N/A = Not applicable