• Does the structured abstract include all the subheadings of an original research article?

• Is the problem the study was designed to address clearly stated?
• Is the current state of knowledge in the area concisely summarized?
• Is the research question or objective relevant to health care and appropriate for the target audience?

General considerations

• Is the study setting or context well described?
• Is the sample frame representative of the target population?
• Is there evidence of sampling bias?
• Are the inclusion and exclusion criteria clearly noted?

Use of secondary data

• Was consent to use the secondary data obtained (if appropriate) and confidentiality maintained throughout the study?
• Was the information drawn from the data source specified fully?
• Was the accuracy and completeness of the data source assessed, particularly for the specific information being sought?
• Do the data provide appropriate information or measures to answer the research question?
• Was the process of any database linkages explained?

Analytical and statistical issues

• Was the unit of analysis (e.g. patients, providers, hospitals or geographic regions) specified and characterized?
• Were appropriate statistical methods used?
• Were sensitivity analyses described to determine the robustness of the results?
• In descriptive studies of practice patterns, were the obvious sources of variation considered (e.g. adjustment for age and sex differences in populations or for disease prevalence)?
• In analytical studies of practice patterns:
  • Were the simultaneous effects of multiple potential sources of variation analysed?
  • Were practice styles characterized rigorously with explicit criteria?
  • Was there adequate statistical power to test the relationships of interest?
• In analytical studies of outcomes:
  • Were the outcome measures appropriate?
  • Were the comparison groups adequately characterized to permit adjustment for confounding factors?

• Do the results cover everything identified in the methods section?
• Is there a report on missing data or excluded subjects?

• Are the main findings of the study summarized?
• Is the significance of the study addressed in relation to other studies?
• Are the results appropriately interpreted and are other possible interpretations of the results considered?
• Are the limitations of the study identified?
• Are areas for further study suggested?

• Are the tables and figures effective in conveying the main points of the study?

• Are the references relevant, complete and current?