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Development of the RTI Item Bank on Risk of Bias and Precision of Observational Studies
Methods Research Reports
Investigators: Meera Viswanathan, PhD and Nancy D Berkman, PhD.
Author Information and AffiliationsStructured Abstract
Objective:
To create a practical and validated item bank for evaluating the risk of bias and precision of observational studies of interventions or exposures included in systematic evidence reviews.
Study Design and Setting:
The item bank was created based on 1,492 questions included in earlier instruments, organized by the quality domains identified by Deeks and colleagues. Items were eliminated and refined through face validity, cognitive, content validity, and interrater reliability testing.
Results:
The resulting RTI item bank, consisting of 29 questions for evaluating the risk of bias and precision of observational studies of interventions or exposures: (1) captures all of the domains critical for evaluating this type of research; (2) is comprehensive and can be easily lifted “off the shelf” by different researchers; (3) can be adapted to different topic areas and study types (e.g., cohort, case control, cross-sectional and case series studies); and (4) provides sufficient instruction to apply the tool to varied topics.
Conclusions:
One bank of items, with specific instructions for focusing abstractor evaluations, can be created to judge the risk of bias and precision of the variety of observational studies that may be used in systematic and comparative effectiveness reviews.
Contents
Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services1, Contract No. 290-2007-10056-I. Prepared by: RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center, Research Triangle Park, NC
Suggested citation:
Viswanathan M, Berkman ND. Development of the RTI Item Bank on Risk of Bias and Precision of Observational Studies. Methods Research Report. (Prepared by the RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2007-0056-I.) AHRQ Publication No. 11-EHC028-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. September 2011. Available at: www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/reports/final.cfm.
This report is based on research conducted by the RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-2007-0056-I). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its content, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The information in this report is intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services. This report is intended as a reference and not as a substitute for clinical judgment.
This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for the development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products or actions may not be stated or implied.
None of the investigators have any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report.
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.ahrq.gov
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- Development of the RTI Item Bank on Risk of Bias and Precision of Observational ...Development of the RTI Item Bank on Risk of Bias and Precision of Observational Studies
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