This is a standard table with eight entries for each study including the following fixed items: (1) Study ID, (2) Clinical features and settings, (3) Participants, (4) Study design, (5) Target condition and reference standard(s), (6) Index and comparator test(s), (7) Follow up and (8) Notes. Footnotes should be used for explanations of any abbreviations used (these will be published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews).
Heading |
Content |
Study ID |
First author, year of publication |
Clinical features and settings |
Report the presenting clinical signs and symptoms, and previous test results, clinical setting, and referral routes. |
Participants |
Report the sample size, socio-demographic items (age, gender, ethnic group etc), co-morbidities, geographic region. |
Study design |
Was the sample selected as a single group, or as separate groups with and without the target condition? Were participants consecutively enrolled in the study? How was comparability of the groups ensured? Were participants identified retrospectively or prospectively? If studies evaluated more than one test, how were tests allocated to individuals, or did each individual receive all tests? |
Target condition and reference standard(s) |
State the target condition, the definition and description of reference standard(s), and the criteria used to define an individual to have the target condition. Give details of test operators (who performed the reference standard). If applicable, report the timing, manufacturer, technical characteristics, etc. of the reference standard. Report the prevalence of the target condition in the sample. |
Index and comparator tests |
For all index and comparator tests, report the test(s) definition and description, criteria for positive test results, and details of test operators. If applicable, report the timing, manufacturer and technical characteristics. |
Follow up |
How much of the sample was lost, or has missing or uninterpretable test results? Were adverse events noted that could be caused by the test? |
Notes
|
Other information that the author considers relevant to report, for example sources of funding, abbreviations, and other issues not covered elsewhere. |