Table 2 Methodical quality of the included studies
From: The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review
+ Yes | Was the recruitment of patients prospective? | Where all patients with the symptom included in the study? | Are inclusion and exclusion criteria precisely defined? | Was the study design multicentered? | Were the number of drop-outs and the reasons for withdrawal specified? | Were the diagnostic categories well-defined? | Was the reference standard that was used appropriate? | Was every patient subjected to the reference standard? | Were the same diagnostic procedures applied to all patients? | Was there an appropriate comparison group? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
− No | ||||||||||
? Unclear | ||||||||||
+/−Criteria fulfilled for part of the aetiologies | ||||||||||
Andrea, 2003 [48] | + | + | + | − | − | ? | − | − | − | + |
Belanger, 2005 [51] | + | + | + | + | ? | + | + | + | + | − |
Cathebras, 1992 [2] | + | + | + | − | − | ? | + | + | +/− | + |
Darbishire, 2003 [11] | + | ? | + | + | ? | + | + | +/− | +/− | − |
Elnicki, 1992 [18] | + | + | + | − | − | + | + | + | +/− | − |
Friedlander, 1962 [43] | + | ? | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | − |
Fuhrer, 1994 [5] | + | + | + | + | ? | + | + | + | + | + |
Gerber, 1992 [14] | + | + | + | − | + | + | + | + | + | − |
Gialamas, 2003 [49] | − | − | + | + | + | + | + | +/− | +/− | − |
Hall, 1994 [19] | − | − | − | − | − | + | +c | ? | ? | − |
Jerrett, 1981 [16] | + | + | + | − | − | + | +/− | +/− | +/− | − |
Kenter, 2003 [21] | − | + | + | + | + | + | + | − | − | + |
Kenter, 2007 [12] | + | + | + | + | ? | + | + | + | + | + |
Kirk, 1990 [30] | + | + | + | + | + | ? | + | + | + | − |
Knottnerus, 1986 [24] | + | ? | + | − | + | + | + | + | + | + |
Koch, 2009 [35] | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | − |
Kroenke, 1989 [46] | − | ? | + | − | + | ? | + | − | − | − |
Maeno, 2002 [20] | + | + | + | − | + | + | + | + | + | − |
Morrell, 1972 [29] | + | + | + | − | + | ? | +/− | − | − | − |
Morrison, 1980 [15] | − | ? | + | − | + | + | + | − | − | − |
Nelson, 1987 [45] | + | ? | + | + | − | ? | − | − | − | ? |
Nijrolder, 2009 [22] | + | ? | + | + | + | + | + | − | − | − |
Ridsdale, 1993 [47] | + | ? | + | + | − | + | + | +/− | +/− | − |
Sugarman, 1984 [17] | − | + | + | − | + | + | + | +/− | +/− | − |
Valdini, 1989 [13] | + | ? | + | − | − | + | + | + | +/− | − |
Vital Durand, 2004 [50] | + | + | + | ? | − | + | + | + | − | − |