The scores of the quality appraisal results from the selected studies
| Domain | Item | Score | ||||||
| Allsop et al | Ho et al | Hochstenbach et al | Ingram et al | Cornetta et al | Wilkie et al | Hackett et al | ||
| Scope and purpose | The overall objective(s) of the guideline is (are) specifically described. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| The health question(s) covered by the guideline is (are) specifically described. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| The population (patients, public, etc) to whom the guideline is meant to apply is specifically described. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Stakeholder involvement | The guideline development group includes individuals from all the relevant professional groups. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| The views and preferences of the target population (patients, public, etc) have been sought. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| The target users of the guideline are clearly defined. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Rigour of development | Systematic methods were used to search for evidence. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| The criteria for selecting the evidence are clearly described. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| The strengths and limitations of the body of evidence are clearly described. | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| The methods for formulating the recommendations are clearly described. | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | |
| The health benefits, side effects and risks have been considered in formulating the recommendations. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | |
| There is an explicit link between the recommendations and the supporting evidence. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| The guideline has been externally reviewed by experts prior to its publication. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| A procedure for updating the guideline is provided. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | |
| Clarity of presentation | The recommendations are specific and unambiguous. | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| The different options for management of the condition or health issue are clearly presented. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Key recommendations are easily identifiable. | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | |
| Applicability | The guideline describes the facilitators and barriers to its application. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| The guideline provides advice and/or tools on how the recommendations can be put into practice. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| The potential resource implications of applying the recommendations have been considered. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| The guideline presents monitoring and/or auditing criteria. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Editorial independence | The views of the funding body have not influenced the content of the guideline. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Competing interests of guideline development group members have been recorded and addressed. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Total | 157 | 161 | 161 | 157 | 161 | 155 | 161 | |