Standardised checklist for the assessment of methodological quality of cross sectional studies (CS), case-control studies (CC), and prospective cohort studies (PC)
| Study objective | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Positive if a specific, clearly stated objective is described | CS/CC/PC |
| Study population | ||
| 2 | Positive if the main features of the study population are described (sampling frame and distribution of the population by age and sex) | CS/CC/PC |
| 3 | Positive if cases and controls are drawn from the same population and a clear definition of cases and controls was stated, and if people with shoulder pain in the past 3 months are excluded from the controls | CC |
| 4 | Positive if the participation rate is ⩾80% or if participation rate is 60%–80% and non-response is not selective (data presented) | CS/CC/PC |
| 5 | Positive if the response at main moment of follow up is ⩾80% or if the non-response is not selective (data presented) | PC |
| Exposure assessment, physical load at work (if not included in the design, not applicable (NA)) | ||
| 6 | Positive if data are collected and presented about physical load at work | CS/CC/PC |
| 7 | Method for measuring physical load at work: direct measurement and observation (+), interview or questionnaire only (−) | CS/CC/PC |
| 8 | Positive if more than one dimension of physical load is assessed: duration, frequency, or amplitude | CS/CC/PC |
| Exposure assessment, psychosocial factors at work (if not included in the design, NA) | ||
| 9 | Positive if data are collected and presented about psychosocial factors at work | CS/CC/PC |
| 10 | Positive if more than one aspect of psychosocial factors is assessed: work demands, job control, social support | CS/CC/PC |
| Exposure assessment, other | ||
| 11 | Positive if data are collected and presented about physical or psychosocial exposure during leisure time | CS/CC/PC |
| 12 | Positive if data are collected and presented about occupational exposure in the past | CS/CC/PC |
| 13 | Positive if data are collected and presented about a history of shoulder disorders | CS/CC/PC |
| 14 | Positive if exposure is measured in an identical manner in cases and controls | CC |
| 15 | Positive if the exposure assessment is blinded to disease status | CS/CC |
| 16 | Positive if the exposure is assessed at a time before the occurrence of the disease | CC |
| Outcome assessment | ||
| 17 | Positive if data were collected for ⩾1 year | PC |
| 18 | Positive if data were collected at least every 3 months | PC |
| 19 | Method for assessing shoulder pain: physical examination blinded to exposure status (+), self reported: specific questions relating to shoulder disability or use of manikin (+), single question (−) | CS/CC/PC |
| 20 | Positive if incident cases are used (prospective enrolment) | CC |
| Analysis and data presentation | ||
| 21 | Positive if the appropriate statistical model is used (univariate or multivariate model) | CS/PC |
| 22 | Positive if a logistic regression model is used in the case of an unmatched case-control study and a conditional logistic regression model in the case of a matched case-control study | CC |
| 23 | Positive if measures of association are presented (OR/RR), including 95% CIs and numbers in the analysis (totals) | CS/CC/PC |
| 24 | Positive if the analysis is controlled for confounding or effect modification is studied | CS/CC/PC |
| 25 | Positive if the number of cases in the multivariate analysis is at least 10 times the number of independent variables in the analysis (final model) | CS/CC/PC |