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Table 3 Quality assessment of the studies that reported on the included instruments based on the modified version of STARD * For this instrument, only one publication in English was found. This publication reported on the study of physicians that had used the instrument. Other publications pertaining to this instrument were in German

From: Instruments to assess the perception of physicians in the decision-making process of specific clinical encounters: a systematic review

Section and Topic Item [83] [56] [72] [84] [50] [61] [65] [81] [68] [73]* [58]
TITLE/ABSTRACT Identify the article as a study concerning a measuring instrument. + + + + + + + + + 0 +
INTRODUC-TON State the research questions or study aims, like developing or validating a measuring instrument. + + + + + + + + + 0 +
METHODS             
Participants Describe the study population: The inclusion and exclusion criteria, setting and locations where the data were collected. + + + + + + + + + 0 +
  Describe the method of recruitment of the participants. 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 + + 0 +
  Describe participant sampling: Was the study population a consecutive series of participants defined by the selection criteria in items 3 and 4? If not, specify how participants were further selected. 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 + + 0 +
  Describe data collection: Was data collection planned before the use of the measuring instrument? 0 0 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 0 +
Test methods Describe the reference standard criterion validity and its rationale. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 + 0
  Describe technical specifications of material and methods involved including how and when measurements were taken, and/or cite references for measuring instrument. + + + + + + + + + 0 +
  Describe definition of and rationale for the units, cut-offs and/or categories of the results of the instrument and the reference standard. + + + + + + + + + 0 0
  Describe the number, training and expertise of the persons executing and reading the measuring instrument and the reference standard. 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Describe other tests or relevant information for the readers concerning the measuring instrument (subjective). + + + + + + + + + + +
Statistical methods Describe methods for calculating or comparing measures of reliability, validity, and the statistical methods used to quantify uncertainty (e.g. 95% confidence intervals) + + 0 + + 0 + + + 0 +
  Describe methods for calculating test reproducibility, if done. 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 +
  Describe a method that takes into account non-independence of data (if applicable) 0 + 0 + + 0 + 0 0 0 0
RESULTS             
Participants Report when study was done, including beginning and ending dates of recruitment. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0
  Report demographic characteristics of the study population (e.g. age, sex, employment, recruitment centers). + + + + + + 0 + + 0 +
  Report the number of participants satisfying the criteria for inclusion (a flow diagram is strongly recommended). 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 +
Test results Report time interval from the measuring instrument to the reference standard, and any measures administered in between. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0
  Report distribution of severity of the situation being assessed (define criteria) in those with the target condition; other diagnoses in participants without the target condition 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  Report a cross tabulation of the results of the measuring instrument (including indeterminate and missing results) by the results of the reference standard; for continuous results, the distribution of the test results by the results of the reference standard + 0 + + + + + + + 0 0
  Report any adverse events from performing the measuring instrument or the reference standard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Estimates Report estimates of accuracy and measures of statistical uncertainty (e.g. 95% confidence intervals). + + + + 0 + + + + 0 0
  Report how indeterminate results, missing responses and outliers of the measuring instrument were handled. 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0
  Report estimates of variability of accuracy between groups of participants, if done. 0 0 + + 0 0 + 0 0 0 +
  Report estimates of test reproducibility, if done. 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 +
DISCUSSION Discuss the clinical applicability of the study findings. + + + + + + + + + 0 +
   11/26 11/26 11/26 16/26 11/26 13/26 15/26 18/26 15/26 2/26* 14/26
  1. * For this instrument, only one publication in English was found. This publication reported on the study of physicians that had used the instrument. Other publications pertaining to this instrument were in German.
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BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

ISSN: 1472-6947

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