Table 1 Descriptors of methodological quality assessment

Study design

Patient evaluation on clinical relevant time points (3)

2

Patients were evaluated with the same criteria at more than one clinical relevant time point (pre- and post-operatively).

1

Patients were evaluated at more than one time point (but the above criteria were not fulfilled).

0

Patients were evaluated at only one point in time.

Evaluation outcome measures (8)

2

Outcome measures were administered by an evaluator who was blind to treatment or self-report was considered as provided by an independent person.

1

Evaluators were not blinded, but were not involved in treatment or self-report was administered by treatment providers.

0

Outcome measures were obtained by unblended treatment providers.

Subject

Eligibility criteria (10)

2

Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined and designed to yield a study group generalizable to clinical situation.

1

Some available inclusion and exclusion information regarding included patients, but information prevents to generalize study results to a specific population.

0

No information on inclusion and exclusion criteria and limited patients descriptors.

Response rate (12)

2

90% or more of the patients enrolled or eligible for study were evaluated for outcomes.

1

More than 70% of the patients eligible for study or enrolled were evaluated for outcomes.

0

Less than 70% of patients eligible for study or enrolled were evaluated.

Outcome

Outcome definitions (16)

2

Primary outcome measure, which represented important clinical outcomes and appropriate psychometric properties (reliability, validity, responsiveness).

1

Primary outcome measure was evident, but was insufficient in either its clinical relevance or its psychometric properties.

0

Primary outcome was irrelevant or methodologically unsupported.

Analysis

Statistical analysis (21)

2

Authors conveyed both statistical significance and size of treatment effect. Indicated by p-values, confidence intervals, effect sizes, or other similar methods.

1

Statistical significance of described means and p-values, but no confidence intervals/effect sizes.

0

Descriptive, statistical information was not reported.

Data collection (22)

2

Complete data collection or a strategy for handling missing data was documented or a specific analysis was conducted to determine the impact of missing data.

1

Missing data was not an apparent issue but no strategy for handling missing data was described.

0

Missing data may have been an issue and no strategy for missing data was documented.