Criteria Used to Assess Methodologic Quality
| Criterion | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Randomization | Not concealed or not sure | Concealed | |
| Blinding | Not blinded | Adjudicators blinded | |
| Analysis | Other | Intention-to-treat | |
| Patient selection | Selected patients or cannot tell | Consecutive eligible patients | |
| Comparability of groups at baseline | No or not sure | Yes | |
| Extent of follow-up | <100% | 100% | |
| Treatment protocol | Poorly described | Reproducibly described | |
| Cointerventions* | Not described | Described but not equal or not sure | Well described and all equal |
| Outcomes | Not described | Partially described | Objectively defined |
↵* The extent to which antibiotics, enteral nutrition, ventilation, oxygen and transfusions were applied equally across groups. For questions 1 to 3 and 8 and 9, possible score 0, 1 or 2. For questions 4 to 7, possible score 0 or 1. Total possible score is 14.