Table 1.

Assessment of studies selected for inclusion in the synthesis using USPSTF quality rating criteria

ARTICLEASSEMBLY OF COMPARABLE GROUPSMAINTENANCE OF COMPARABLE GROUPSNO IMPORTANT DIFFERENTIAL LOSS TO FOLLOW-UP OR OVERALL HIGH LOSS TO FOLLOW-UPMEASUREMENTS: EQUAL, RELIABLE, VALID (INCLUDES MASKING OF OUTCOME ASSESSMENT)CLEAR DEFINITION OF INTERVENTIONSALL IMPORTANT OUTCOMES CONSIDEREDANALYSIS: ADJUSTMENT FOR POTENTIAL CONFOUNDERSOVERALL ASSESSED QUALITY
Gordon et al,10 1999GoodFairFairGoodGoodGoodFairFair
Hodnett and Osborn,11 1989UnclearFairFairGoodGoodGoodFairFair
Kennell et al,12 1991GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Langer et al,13 1998GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodFairGoodGood
McGrath and Kennell,14 2008GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

  • USPSTF—US Preventive Services Task Force.

  • USPSTF quality rating criteria from Harris et al.15