Table 2

Summary of the quality assessment of qualitative studies

Reference numbera
Research question1920211222324252627292830313212333435
Did the article describe an important clinical problem examined via a clearly formulated question?±++++++++±±++±+±±++
Was the qualitative approach appropriate?+++++++++±+++++++++
Sampling method
Was the sampling strategy clearly defined?–±±+–±+–±±±±±+++–++
Was the sampling strategy and size justified?–±–±–±+––±±±++±+––±
Was the sampling strategy appropriate?–––+±?+–++±±++±+?±+
Is it clear why some participants chose not to take part?––±±––±––NA–––NA––––+
Have the characteristics of included subjects been clearly defined?–±–±––+––±+++–±+++±
Data collection
Was the setting justified?±+±+?±+±++++++++±++
Were the methods used for collecting data described in enough detail?±+±+±–––+±++++–+±–±
Were the data collection methods reliable and verifiable?±+±+±–+?+±+±–++++++
Were observations taken in a range of circumstances (for example, at different times)?–NA?NA–±+NANA–––?––+NA–NA
Relationship between researcher and participants
Was the researcher's perspective/role described?––––––+–±–++–+±–––+
Was the researcher's perspective/role likely to lead to potential bias or influence???–???±?±?±±––±???±
Do the researchers state how the research was explained to the participants?–+–±––+––±+++?––±––
Data analysis
Is it clear how the categories/themes were derived from the data?–+±+–––±++++±+±±±+±
Were steps taken to test the credibility of the findings?–––±–––––+±±–±–+?±+
Were all the data taken into account in the analysis?–++???????++–??????
Were negative or discrepant results fully addressed, or just ignored???????±????????+–?±
Do the results address the research question?++++±+±±++±±±+++±+±
Is sufficient data presented to support the findings?±+++–––––±±±++±+±–±
Do the researchers explain how the data presented in the paper were selected from the original sample?–––––––––±++–+–––––
Is it possible to determine the sources of data presented?++++–––++–±–++++–––
Conclusions
Are the conclusions justified by the results?±±±+±?±±+±±±++±±+±±
Have alternative explanations for the results been explored and discounted?––±––––––±±±––±±–––
Were the limitations of the study discussed?–+±–––––+±±–±+–––+–
Are the findings of the study transferable to other clinical settings???±?–?–?–±––?–±??–+

  • + item properly addressed; ± item partially addressed; – item not properly addressed; ? Unclear/can't tell/not stated; NA Not applicable.