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Table 1 Methodological quality of lung cancer prognosis studies

From: Survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer without treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Study Design/Domain/Criterion

Criteria fulfilled

 

n/N

%

Cohort studies (11 items)

 

Participation bias

A

Population of interest is adequately described for key characteristics [15]

7/7

100

B

Study setting and geographic location is adequately described [15]

7/7

100

C

Baseline sample is adequately described for key characteristics [15]

4/7

57

D

Inclusion and exclusion criteria are adequately described [15]

5/7

71

E

There is adequate participation in the study by all eligible patients [15]

7/7

100

 

Attrition bias

F

Follow-up is sufficiently long for outcome to occur (≥6 months) [16, 18, 19, 46]

6/7

86

G

Patients with missing data were reported [15, 17]

7/7

100

 

Outcome measurement

H

Definition of outcome is provided a priori[15]

7/7

100

I

Objective definition of outcome is provided [15, 16, 18, 19]

7/7

100

 

Data analysis and reporting

J

Alpha error and/or beta error is specified a priori

2/7

29

K

Frequencies of most important data (for example, outcomes) are presented [18, 19, 47]

7/7

100

Randomized controlled trials (14 items)

 

Participation bias

L

Population of interest is adequately described for key characteristics [15]

15/15

100

M

Study setting and geographic location is adequately described [15]

7/15

47

N

Baseline sample is adequately described for key characteristics [15]

14/15

93

O

Inclusion and exclusion criteria are adequately described [15]

14/15

93

P

Patients were balanced in all aspects except the intervention

15/15

93

 

Attrition bias

Q

Follow-up is sufficiently long for outcome to occur (≥6 months) [16, 18, 19, 46, 48]

8/15

53

R

Proportion of sample completing the study is adequate (≥80%) [15, 16, 18, 47, 49, 50]

9/15

60

S

Description of withdrawal (incomplete outcome data) is provided [15, 17]

15/15

100

T

Characteristics of drop-outs versus completers is provided [15]

2/15

13

 

Outcome measurement

U

Definition of outcome is provided a priori[15]

15/15

100

V

Objective definition of outcome is provided [15, 16, 18, 19]

15/15

100

 

Data analysis and reporting

W

Alpha error and/or beta error is specified a priori

7/15

47

X

Data analysis was based on intention-to-treat analysis principle [17]

9/15

53

Y

Frequencies of most important data (for example, outcomes) are presented [18, 19, 47]

15/15

100