Development of AMSTAR: a measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Our objective was to develop an instrument to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews, building upon previous tools, empirical evidence and expert consensus.

Methods

A 37-item assessment tool was formed by combining 1) the enhanced Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire (OQAQ), 2) a checklist created by Sacks, and 3) three additional items recently judged to be of methodological importance. This tool was applied to 99 paper-based and 52 electronic systematic reviews. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify underlying components. The results were considered by methodological experts using a nominal group technique aimed at item reduction and design of an assessment tool with face and content validity.

Results

The factor analysis i

SUBMITTER: Shea BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1810543 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature