Table 1 Critical appraisal guide for a Network Meta-Analysis[85]
From: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of interventions for fibromyalgia: a protocol
| Critical appraisal criteria | Specific items |
|---|---|
| A. Are the results of the study valid? | |
| Did the review explicitly address a sensible clinical question? | |
| Was the search for relevant studies exhaustive? | |
| Were there major biases in the primary studies? | |
| B. What are the results? | |
| What was the amount of evidence in the network? | |
| Were the results similar from study to study? | |
| Were the results consistent in direct and indirect comparisons? | |
| What were the overall treatment effects and their uncertainty, and how did the treatments rank? | |
| Were the results robust to sensitivity assumptions and potential biases? | |
| C. How can I apply the results to patient care? | |
| Were all patient-important outcomes considered? | |
| Were all potential treatment options considered? | |
| Are any postulated subgroup effects credible? | |
| What is the overall quality and what are limitations of the evidence? |