Table 2

Details regarding critical appraisal used in systematic reviews

Numbers of reviews% of category total
Critical appraisal
 Standard tool (pre-existing tool used without modification)3763
 Adapted tool (pre-existing tool adapted for review)1017
 Bespoke tool (new tool created by authors)47
 Description (reporting of study characteristics only)23
 Other00
 None610
Separate appraisal per outcome
 Yes2752
 No1529
 N/A (single outcome review)1019
Domain-level assessments of risk of bias (eg, outcomes blinded, selective outcome data)
 Domain-level risk of bias presented2548
 Individual criteria grouped into domains presented510
 No domain summary for risk of bias2242
Individual appraisal criteria reported
 Yes2650
 No2650
Critical appraisal allows ranking of studies
 Yes2854
 No2446