Skip to main content

Table 4 Quality assessment using quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies

From: Does arch length preservation in mixed dentition children affect mandibular second permanent molar eruption? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Criteria

Sonis and Ackerman [16]

Ferro et al. [15]

Rubin et al. [17]

Jacob et al. [19]

Arevalo et al. [18]

Was research question or objective in paper clearly stated?

Was study population clearly specified and defined?

Was participation rate of eligible persons at least 50%?

Were all participants selected or recruited from the same or similar populations (including the same time period)? Were inclusion and exclusion criteria for being in study prespecified and applied uniformly to all participants?

X

Was sample size justification, power description, or variance and effect estimates provided?

X

X

X

For analyses in this paper, were the exposure(s) of interest measured prior to the outcome(s) being measured?

Was timeframe sufficient so that one could reasonably expect to see association between exposure and outcome if it existed?

CD

CD

For exposures that can vary in amount or level, did study examine different levels of exposure as related to outcome (such as categories of exposure, or exposure measured as continuous variable)?

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

Were exposure measures (independent variables) clearly defined, valid, reliable, and implemented consistently across all study participants?

X

Was exposure(s) assessed more than once over time?

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

Were outcome measures (dependent variables) clearly defined, valid, reliable, and implemented consistently across all study participants?

Were outcome assessors blinded to the exposure status of participants?

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

Was loss to follow-up after baseline 20% or less?

Were key potential confounding variables measured and adjusted statistically for their impact on relationship between exposure(s) and outcome(s)?

NR

Quality rating

Fair

Fair

Good

Poor

Fair

  1. √ yes, x no, CD cannot determine, NA not applicable, NR not recorded