Evaluation of methodological quality of studies

Abstract

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is a systematic approach to medical question, integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available clinical evidence from systematic research. Systematic reviews are key in practice of EBM and are to the peak of the evidence pyramid. In performing a systematic review/meta-analysis and overview of systematic reviews, the evaluation of methodological quality of the included studies represents an important step to identify poor quality studies that can give a falsification of effect's esteems. The aim of the present article is to analyze the rating scales about methodological quality of observational studies, experimental studies, economic analysis, studies about diagnostic tests and systematic review.