Table 2 Critical appraisal score for assessment of included studies

Study purpose

 Study purpose clearly stated

Yes (usually stated briefly in the abstract of the article, and again in more detail in the introduction applied to occupational therapy and/or the research question)

1.000

1

1

1

1

Literature

 Relevant background literature reviewed

Yes (providing a synthesis of relevant information such as previous work/research, and discussion of the clinical importance of the topic, justifying the need for the study being reported)

1.000

1

1

1

1

Study design

 Appropriateness of the design chosen for the study question

Yes

0.889

1

1

0

0

Sample

 Described in detail

Yes (who; characteristics; how many; how was sampling done; if more than one group, describing similarity between the groups)

1.000

1

0

1

1

 Justified

Yes (sample size calculation; ethics procedures or informed consent obtained)

1.000

1

0

0

0

Outcomes

 Outcome measure reliably reported

Yes (test–retest reliability; inter-rater reliability)

1.000

–

–

–

–

 Outcome measure validly reported

Yes (content validity; criterion validity)

0.985

1

–

–

1

Intervention

 Described in detail

Yes (focus, who delivered it, how often, setting)

1.000

1

1

1

1

 Contamination avoided

Yes

0.984

1

1

N/A

N/A

 Cointervention avoided

Yes

1.000

1

1

1

1

Results

 Reported in terms of statistical significance

Yes

1.000

1

1

1

1

 Appropriate analysis methods

Yes

1.000

1

1

1

1

 Clinical importance reported

Yes

1.000

1

1

1

1

 Dropouts reported

Yes (reasons and how the analysis of the findings was handled, if applicable)

1.000

1

N/A

N/A

0

Conclusions and clinical implications

 Appropriate conclusion and relevant clinical influence

Yes

1.000

1

1

1

1

Overall CA score (range 0–15)/ Applicable CA items (range 0–15)

14/15

10/14

9/13

10/14

%

93

71

69

71