Critical and non-critical domains of A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) quality assessment tool
Critical domains | Non-critical domains |
Protocol development/registration before commencement of the review | Satisfying the components of PICO (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome) |
Comprehensiveness of the literature search | Clarification of the reasons for selection of the study designs for inclusion in the review. |
Justification for studies’ exclusion | Study selection is done in duplicate |
Assessment of the risk of bias | Extraction is done in duplicate |
Appropriateness of meta-analysis | Detailed description of the included studies |
Accounting for risk of bias in the discussion | Report on the sources of funding for the primary studies |
Assessment of publication bias | Assessment of the potential impact of risk of bias on the results of the evidence synthesis |
Satisfactory explanation for any heterogeneity | |
Report of any potential sources of conflict of interest |