Table 4 |
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Summary of components to consider when evaluating the quality of evidence from research |
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Study design |
Randomized |
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Allocation concealment |
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Blinding (if possible)a |
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Clinically important and objective primary outcome |
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Beta-errorb |
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Multi-center |
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Study conduct |
Intention-to-treat analysis |
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Follow-up or attrition rate |
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Completion to planned numbers |
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Study findings |
Biological plausibility |
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Strength of estimate of effect |
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Precision of estimate of effect |
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Observed event rate |
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Study applicability |
Consistency across similar studies |
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Reproducibility |
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Generalizability |
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aBlinding may not be possible in device or protocol/process trials. bAdequately powered, appropriate estimate of control event rate and relative or absolute reduction in clinically important primary outcome. |
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Bellomo and Bagshaw Critical Care 2006 10:232 doi:10.1186/cc5045 |
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