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Table 7 Quality Assessment of Modelling Study (Flaherman 2007 [31])

From: Recommendations for the screening of paediatric latent tuberculosis infection in indigenous communities: a systematic review of screening strategies among high-risk groups in low-incidence countries

Criteriaa

Criteria met? (1 = yes,

x = no or not reported)

Structure:

 Inputs and outputs relevant to the decision-making perspective

1

 Structure consistent with the theory of the disease in question

1

 Structure as simple, although including essential aspects for decision-making. Simplifications, if any, justified as not significantly affecting the results.

1

 Heterogeneity in the modelled population accounted for by stratifying by groups that have different outcome probabilities or costs.

1

 Time horizon of the model sufficient to detect important (and clinically meaningful) differences in long-term health and cost outcomes.

1

Data:

 Data identification:

  Systematic reviews of the literature conducted on key model inputs.

x

  Ranges provided in base-case estimates of all input parameters for which sensitivity analyses were done.

1

  Data based on expert opinion, if used, are derived via formal methods, e.g. Delphi

x

  Attempts to obtain new data prior to modeling have been considered.

x

 Data modeling:

  Modeling methods follow accepted methods of biostatistics and epidemiology.

1

 Data incorporation:

  Use of either probabilistic (Monte Carlo, first-order) simulation or deterministic (cohort) simulation

1

  Included sensitivity analyses of key parameters.

1

Validation:

 Internal validation:

  Model subjected to internal testing through input of extreme values (or equal values for replication testing)

x

  Calibration data, where available, should be from sources independent of those used to estimate inputs

x

  Source code available for peer-review.

x

 Between-model validation:

  Models developed independently of each other, to allow convergent validity testing

x

  Significant discrepancies in model outputs compared to other published results explained

1

 External and predictive validation:

  Model based on the best evidence available at the time

1

 Total Score (out of 18)

11

  1. aBased on the ISPOR Principles of Good Practice for Decision Analytic Modeling in Health-Care Evaluation [18]. (Since this study did not employ a transition-state model, components of the ISPOR guidelines pertaining to such models were excluded from this assessment)