Quality assessment questions for Cohort studies

Main Author (year) country

Quality assessment questions*

Total

assessment

Quality

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Shaffer (2006) USA

Y

Y

U

U

U

Y

U

Y

Y

Y

Medium

Reichman (2008) Israel

Y

U

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

U

Y

Y

Medium

Shaffer (2011) USA

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

High

Le Ray (2013) France

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

High

Sen (2013) Japan

Y

Y

N

Y

N

N

U

U

Y

NI

Low

Graham (2014)

Australia

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

N

NI

Medium

Note: Y = Yes; N = No; U = Unclear; NI = No Information

*Quality assessment questions

1) Did the study address a clearly focused issue? 2) Was the cohort recruited in an acceptable way? 3) Was the exposure accurately measured to minimise bias? 4) Was the outcome accurately

measured to minimise bias? 5) Have the authors identified all important confounding factors? 6) Was the follow up of subjects complete enough? 7) Do you believe the results? 8) Can the results be applied to the local population? 9) Do the results of this study fit with other available evidence? 10) Were ethical issues considered?

Quality assessment questions for case-control study

Le Ray

(2007) France

Y

Y

Y

Y

U

Y

Y

Y

Y

High

Note: Y = Yes; N = No; U = Unclear; NI = No Information

*Quality assessment questions

1) Did the study address a clearly focused issue? 2) Did the authors use an appropriate method to answer their question? 3) Were the cases recruited in an acceptable way? 4) Were the controls selected in an acceptable way? 5. Was the exposure accurately measured to minimise bias? 6) Have the authors identified all important confounding factors? 7) Can you believe the results? 8) Can the results be applied to the local population? 9) Were ethical issues considered?