Editorial Checklist Protocol

General

• Is the protocol well structured and clearly written? Yes No

• Where there any important and relevant issues that was not
  considered in the protocol but should have been considered? Yes No
  
  If Yes, for example: ___________________________________________

Cover sheet

• Is the title clear and understandable for the non-expert? Yes No
  
• Does the title reflect the subject of the protocol? Yes No

Background

• Has the reviewer identified the main debates (or provided
  an international perspective) in this topic area? Yes No

• Is the background clear and understandable for the non-expert? Yes No

Objectives

• Is the study question clearly stated? Yes No

Criteria for considering studies for the review

• Are the types of studies to be considered appropriate? Yes No

• Are the types of participants to be considered appropriate? Yes No

• Are the types of intervention to be considered appropriate? Yes No

• Are the types of outcome measures to be considered appropriate
  (clinically relevant, validated when available with an adequate
  period of follow-up)? Yes No

• Are adverse effects included as an outcome if appropriate? Yes No

• Are the inclusion/exclusion criteria appropriate? Yes No

• Is bias in the selection of articles likely to be avoided? Yes No

Search strategy for identification of studies

• Is the search strategy reasonably unbiased, comprehensive
  and adequate to the study question? Yes No

• Will the selection of studies be carried out independently by at
  least two people? Yes No

Methods of the review

• Does the method section clearly describe what the reviewers
  will do concerning quality assessment, data collection
  and analysis? Yes No

Assessment of study quality

• Are the criteria used for assessing the quality of the studies
  reported? Yes No

• Will the quality and validity of studies be assessed in a reliable
  manner using a recommended criteria list? Yes No

• Will quality assessment be performed independently by at least
  two reviewers? Yes No

Data collection

• Will the reviewers record all relevant data? Yes No
  
• Will attempts be made to retrieve missing information? Yes No

• Is the process of data collection clear? Yes No
  
• Will data extraction be performed independently by at least
  two reviewers? Yes No

Analysis (data synthesis)

• Is the primary outcome defined in advance? Yes No

• Are the methods (qualitative or quantitative) to combine the
  findings of the relevant studies reported? Yes No

• Have plans for appropriate subgroup analysis been defined? Yes No

• Have plans for sensitivity analysis been defined? Yes No

• Have plans for reporting the results been stated? Yes No

Potential conflict of interest

• Have potential conflicts of interest been declared? Yes No