QAT Item | Brief Definition | Points Awarded | Frequency of studies % (n) | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
STUDY METHODS | ||||
Low risk | Prospective/current data collection | 2 | 11 (3) | |
Some risk | Retrospective data collection <12 months | 1 | 78 (21) | |
Piloted questionnaire (or interview schedule) | Any pilot or previous use of study material | 1 | 26 (7) | |
Address potential sources of bias | Report efforts to address nonresponsive bias or information bias | 1 | 7 (2) | |
Adjust for potential confounders | Any adjustment of confounders in analyses of variables associated with CAM use | 1 | 44 (12) | |
SAMPLING | ||||
Response rate | Where response rate = (no. of participants in the study/No of people invited to take part) x 100 | 1 | 48 (13) | |
Representative sampling strategy | Any attempt to a representative sample of the larger population | 1 | 26 (7) | |
PARTICIPANT’S CHARACTERISTICS | ||||
Specific diagnosis | Report participants’ diagnoses | 1 | 100 (27) | All studies |
Indicator of socioeconomic status | Report participants’ socioeconomic status | 0.5 | 67 (18) | |
Age | Report participants’ ages | 0.5 | 100 (27) | All studies |
Ethnicity | Report participants’ ethnicity | 0.5 | 56 (15) | |
Gender | Report participants’ gender | 0.5 | 100 (27) | All studies |
CAM USAGE | ||||
CAM definition | Information about the definition of CAM/a list of CAM modalities provided to participants | 2 | 74 (20) | |
Use of CAM modalities assessed | Report the prevalence of use of specific CAM modalities | 1 | 100 (27) | All studies |
Frequency/duration of CAM uses | Report how often or for what duration the CAM were/are used by study participants | 1 | 19 (5) | |
Reasons for CAM use | Report the reasons for the use of CAM by study participants | 2 | 56 (15) |