Table 2 Quality criteria checklist used in search 1 — Reviews

1.

Will the findings of the review, if true, have a direct bearing on the health of patients?

2.

Is the outcome or topic something that patients/clients/population groups would care about?

3.

Is the problem addressed in the review one that is relevant to dietetics practice?

4.

Will the information, if true, require a change in practice?

Validity questions

1.

Was the research question clearly focused and appropriate?

2.

Was the search strategy used to locate relevant studies comprehensive? Were the databases searched and the search terms use described?

3.

Were explicit methods used to select studies to include in the review? Were inclusion/exclusion criteria specified and appropriate? Were selection methods unbiased?

4.

Was there an appraisal of the quality and validity of studies included in the review?

5.

Were specific treatments/interventions/exposures described? Were treatments similar enough to be combined?

6.

Was the outcome of interest clearly indicated? Were other potential harms and benefits considered?

7.

Were processes for data abstraction, synthesis, and analysis described? Were they applied consistently across studies and groups? Was there appropriate use of qualitative and/or quantitative synthesis? Was variation in findings among studies analyzed? Were heterogeneity issues considered? If data from studies were aggregated for meta-analysis, was the procedure described?

8.

Are the results clearly presented in narrative and/or quantitative terms? If summary statistics are used, are levels of significance and/or confidence intervals included?

9.

Are conclusions supported by results with biases and limitations taken into consideration? Are limitations of the review identified and discussed?

10.

Was bias due to the review’s funding or sponsorship unlikely?