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Table 2 Quality assessment

From: Effectiveness of interventions for people bereaved through suicide: a systematic review of controlled studies of grief, psychosocial and suicide-related outcomes

Quality Criteria

Battle (1984)

USA [33]

Constantino & Bricker (1996)

USA [34]

Constantino et al. (2001)

USA [35]

De Groot et al. (2007; 2010)

The Netherlands [41, 42]

Farberow (1992) USA [36]

Hazell & Lewin (1993)

Australia [43]

Kovac & Range (2000)

USA [37]

Pfeffer et al. (2002)

USA [38]

Sandor et al. (1994)

USA [39]

Wittouck et al. (2014)

Belgium [44]

Zisook et al. (2018)

USA [40]

A. Selection bias

 Representativeness

Not likely

Not likely

Not likely

Somewhat likely

Somewhat likely

Somewhat likely

Somewhat likely

Somewhat likely

Can’t tell

Not likely

Not likely

 Percentage agreed

Can’t tell

80–100%

Can’t tell

< 60%

Can’t tell

60–79%

60–79%

60–79%

Can’t tell

80–100%

Can’t tell

 Rating

Weak

Weak

Weak

Weak

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Weak

Weak

Weak

B. Study design

 Study design type

Other: 3 groups comparison

RCT

RCT

RCT

Cohort analytic

Case-control

RCT

RCT

Cohort analytic

RCT

RCT

 Described as randomized?

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

 Method of randomization described?

N.a.

No

Yes

Yes

N.a.

N.a.

No

Yes

N.a.

Yes

Yes

 Method appropriate?

N.a.

No

Yes

Yes

N.a.

N.a.

No

Yes

N.a.

Yes

Yes

 Rating

Weak

Strong

Strong

Strong

Moderate

Moderate

Strong

Strong

Moderate

Strong

Strong

C. Confounders

 Pre-intervention differences?

Can’t tell

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

 Percentage confounders controlled for

Can’t tell

N.a.

N.a.

80–100% (most)

Can’t tell

80–100%

60–79% (some)

80–100% (most)

80–100%

80–100%

< 60% (few or none)

 Rating

Weak

Strong

Strong

Strong

Weak

Strong

Moderate

Strong

Strong

Strong

Weak

D. Blinding

 Outcome assessors were blinded?

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

No

Can’t tell

Yes

Can’t tell

No

Yes

 Participants were blinded?

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Yes

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Yes

 Rating

Weak

Weak

Weak

Weak

Weak

Weak

Moderate

Moderate

Weak

Weak

Strong

E. Data collection methods

 Valid measures?

Can’t tell

Yes

Yes

Yes

Can’t tell

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 Reliable measures?

Can’t tell

Yes

Yes

Yes

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 Rating

Weak

Strong

Strong

Strong

Weak

Moderate

Strong

Strong

Strong

Strong

Strong

F. Withdrawals and drop-outs

 Numbers and reasons reported per group?

Yes

Can’t tell

No

Yes

Can’t tell

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

 Percentage completing study?

N.a.

80–100%

60–79%

80–100%

Can’t tell

80–100%

60–79%

< 60%

80–100%

80–100%

< 60%

 Rating

N.a.

Strong

Moderate

Strong

Weak

Weak

Weak

Weak

Strong

Strong

Weak

 Total A-F:

WEAK

WEAK

WEAK

WEAK

WEAK

WEAK

MODERATE

MODERATE

WEAK

WEAK

WEAK

 Number of ‘strong’ ratings

0/6

4/6

3/6

4/6

0/6

1/6

2/6

3/6

3/6

4/6

3/6

G. Intervention integrity

 Percentage participants received intervention?

Can’t tell

80–100%

60–79%

80–100%

80–100%

80–100%

60–79%

80–100%

Can’t tell

80–100%

60–79%

 Intervention consistency measured?

Can’t tell

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Yes

 Confounding unintended intervention?

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

H. Analyses

  

 Unit of allocation

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual (family)

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual (family)

Individual

Individual

Individual

 Unit of analysis

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

Individual

 Appropriate statistical methods?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 Analysis by intention-to-treat status

No

Can’t tell

No

Yes

No

Can’t tell

Can’t tell

No

Can’t tell

No

Can’t tell