METHODOLOGY CHECKLIST: COHORT STUDIES

Study identification (Include author, title, year of publication, journal title, pages)

Section 1: Internal validity

In a well conducted cohort study: In this study the
criterion is:
1.1 The study addresses an appropriate and clearly focused Well Not
question. covered addresse
Adequatel d
Reason of your answer: y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
Selection of subjects
1.2 The two groups being studied are selected from source Well Not
populations that are comparable in all respects other than covered addresse
the factor under investigation. Adequatel d
y Not
Reason of your answer: addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
1.3 The study indicates how many of the people asked to Well Not
take part did so, in each of the groups being studied. covered addresse
Adequatel d
Reason of your answer: y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
1.4 The likelihood that some eligible subjects might have the Well Not
outcome at the time of enrolment is assessed and taken covered addresse
into account in the analysis. Adequatel d
y Not
 Reason of your answer: addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e

1.5 What percentage of individuals or clusters recruited into

each arm of the study dropped out before the study was
completed.

Reason of your answer:

1.6 Comparison is made between full participants and those Well Not
lost to follow up, by exposure status. covered addresse
Adequatel d
y Not
addressed reported
Reason of your answer: Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
Assessment
1.7 The outcomes are clearly defined. Well Not
covered addresse
Adequatel d
Reason of your answer: y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
1.8 The assessment of outcome is made blind to exposure Well Not
status. covered addresse
Adequatel d
Reason of your answer: y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
1.9 Where blinding was not possible, there is some Well Not
recognition that knowledge of exposure status could covered addresse
 have influenced the assessment of outcome. Adequatel d
y Not
addressed reported
Reason of your answer: Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
1.1 The measure of assessment of exposure is reliable. Well Not
0 covered addresse
Reason of your answer: Adequatel d
y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
1.1 Evidence from other sources is used to demonstrate that Well Not
1 the method of outcome assessment is valid and reliable. covered addresse
Adequatel d
Reason of your answer: y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
1.1 Exposure level or prognostic factor is assessed. Well Not
2 covered addresse
Reason of your answer: Adequatel d
y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
Confounding
1.1 The main potential confounders are identified and taken Well Not
3 into account in the design and analysis. covered addresse
Adequatel d
Reason of your answer: y Not
addressed reported
Poorly Not
addressed applicabl
e
Statistical analysis
1.1 Have confidence intervals been provided?
4
Reason of your answer:
Put the result of this study if :
- Just written RR
- RR (95% CI: ….. -…….)

Section 2: Overall assessment of the study

2.1 How well was the study done to minimise the risk of
bias or confounding, and to establish a causal
relationship between exposure and effect?

Code ++, +, or –

2.2 Taking into account clinical considerations, your

evaluation of the methodology used, and the statistical
power of the study, are you certain that the overall effect
is due to the exposure being investigated?

2.3 Are the results of this study directly applicable to the

patient group targeted in this guideline?

Section 3: Description of the study (Note: the following information is

required for evidence tables to facilitate cross-study comparisons. Please
complete all sections for which information is available).

3.1 Do we know who the study was funded by? [ ] Academic

Institution
[ ] Healthcare
Industry
[ ] Government
[ ] NGO
[ ] Public funds
[ ] Other
3.2 How many centres are patients recruited from?

3.4 What is the social setting (ie type of environment in [ ]   Urban

which they live) of patients in the study? [ ] Rural
[ ] Mixed
3.5 What criteria are used to decide who should be
INCLUDED in the study?

3.6 What criteria are used to decide who should be

EXCLUDED from the study?

3.7 What risk factor is investigated in the study?

3.8 Was the inception cohort applied?

3.9 How long were patients followed-up for, during the

study?

3.1 Conclusion:
0