Criteria and checklist Pol et al.
[32] 		Ozen et al
[40] 		Hakimiha et al.
[41] 		Bozkaya et al.
[42] 		Midamba and
Haanaes [44]
Study objective
1. Is the hypothesis/aim/objective of the study stated clearly in the abstract, introduction, or methods section? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Study population
2. Are the characteristics of the participants included in the study described? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
3. Were the cases collected in more than one centre? Yes No Yes Yes Yes
4. Are the eligibility criteria (inclusion and exclusion criteria) for entry into the study explicit and appropriate? Yes No Yes No No
5. Were participants recruited consecutively? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
6. Did participants enter the study at a similar point in the disease? No No No No No
Intervention and co-intervention
7. Was the intervention clearly described in the study? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
8. Were additional interventions (co-interventions) clearly reported in the study? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Outcome measures
9. Are the outcome measures clearly defined in the introduction or methods section? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
10. Were relevant outcomes appropriately measured with objective and/or subjective methods? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
11. Were outcomes measured before and after intervention? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Statistical analysis
12. Were the statistical tests used to assess the relevant outcomes appropriate? Yes Yes Yes Yes Unclear
Results and conclusions
13. Was the length of follow-up reported? Yes Yes Yes No Yes
14. Was the loss to follow-up reported? No Yes No No No
15. Does the study provide estimates of the random variability in the data analysis of relevant outcomes? No No Yes Yes No
16. Are adverse events reported? No Yes No No No
17. Are the conclusions of the study supported by results? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Competing interests and sources of support
18. Are both competing interests and sources of support for the study reported? No Yes Yes Yes No
Percentage of positive responses 72.2% 77.8% 77.8% 72.2% 61.1%