Assessment of methodological quality tables (QUADAS)

In reviews of diagnostic test accuracy using QUADAS, each included study has an Assessment of methodological quality table, listed under the study. Each row in the table consists of:

You can choose between a number of predefined methodological quality items, and also add your own.

See the Handbook for a description of the various predefined items.

The Assessment of methodological quality tables are called Risk of bias tables in intervention reviews. See also the section on using QUADAS-2.

To activate an item

  1. Open the properties for the methodological quality table.
    Click the Properties icon next to the 'Assessment of methodological quality table' heading.

  2. Choose the item you wish to activate.
    Click on the item in the left pane. The predefined items are blue and cannot be modified, while user-defined items are black.  

  3. If the item must be assessed at the test level, add one or more test groups. See 'Study or test level quality assessment' below.   

  4. Check the Activated box.
    If the box is grayed out, this is because outcome groups have not yet been specified, see above.

  5. Click OK.
    The properties window closes and the new item is added to the table. If you defined multiple outcome groups, there will be a row for each.

User defined characteristics

The Assessment of methodological quality table has a predefined set of standard characteristics, but you can also add user defined characteristics.  

To add a user-defined item

  1. Open the properties for the methodological quality table.
    Click the Properties icon next to the 'Assessment of methodological quality table' heading.

  2. Add the new item.
    Click the Add button beneath the left-hand pane.
    The item will be created with the default name 'New item'.  

  3. Edit the name in the Item field.

  4. Input the Full Question.

  5. Specify the assessment level (study or test, see below).

  6. Activate the item (see above).

  7. Click OK.

Study or test level quality assessment

Some items are assessed for the study as a whole (e.g. 'Acceptable reference standard?') while others must be assessed at the test level (e.g. 'Where withdrawals from the study explained?').

For more information on the rationale and use of methodological quality items on test or study level, see the Handbook.

To enable assessment by test, the various index and comparator tests should have been defined under Data tables by test.

If the item must be assessed at the test level, add one or more test level groups.

To add a test level group

  1. Open the properties for the methodological quality table.
    Click the Properties icon next to the 'Assessment of methodological quality table' heading.

  2. Highlight the item you wish to change.

  3. Click the Add button to the right of the list of test level groups. A new test group with the label 'All tests' is created. Create the number of groups that you require (by repeatedly clicking the Add button).

  4. Modify the label of each (group of) test(s) and choose the test(s) that should be part of the group from the list that appears below by ticking the box in front of each test.

  5. Check the Activated box.
    If the box is grayed out, it is because test groups have not yet been specified, see above.

  6. Click OK.
    The properties window closes and the new item is added to the table. If you defined multiple test groups, there will be a row for each.