Appendix 2: Critical Appraisal Tools

Abstract

Reviewer ________________________________ Date ________________ Author ______________ Year ______________ Record number _______ Yes No Unclear 1. Was the assignment to treatment groups random? 2. Were participants blinded to treatment allocation? 3. Was allocation to treatment groups concealed from the allocator? 4. Were the outcomes of people who withdrew described and included in the analysis? 5. Were those assessing outcomes blind to the treatment allocation? 6. Were the control and treatment groups comparable at entry? 7. Were groups treated identically other than for the named interventions? 8. Were outcomes measured in the same way for all groups? 9. Were outcomes measured in a reliable way? 10. Was there adequate follow-up (>80%) 11. Was appropriate statistical analysis used? Overall appraisal: Include Exclude Seek further info. Comments (Including reasons for exclusion) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________