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Table 15 Criteria for assessing confidence in AMSTAR-2 (Shea et al. [20])

From: A comparison of two assessment tools used in overviews of systematic reviews: ROBIS versus AMSTAR-2

Rating overall confidence in the results of the review

1. High

(a) No or one non-critical weakness. The systematic review provides an accurate and comprehensive summary of the results of the available studies that address the question of interest

2. Moderate

(a) More than one non-critical weakness*. The systematic review has more than one weakness but no critical flaws. It may provide an accurate summary of the results of the available studies that were included in the review

3. Low

(a) One critical flaw with or without non-critical weaknesses. The review has a critical flaw and may not provide an accurate and comprehensive summary of the available studies that address the question of interest

4. Critically low

(a) More than one critical flaw with or without non-critical weaknesses. The review has more than one critical flaw and should not be relied on to provide an accurate and comprehensive summary of the available studies

  1. *Multiple non-critical weaknesses may diminish confidence in the review and it may be appropriate to move the overall appraisal down from moderate to low confidence