5.1.1

Include a report title*

5.1.2

Include an abstract*

5.1.3

Include an executive summary

5.1.4

Include a summary written for the lay public

5.1.5

Include an introduction (rationale and objectives)*

5.1.6

Include a methods section. Describe the following:

• Research protocol*

• Eligibility criteria (criteria for including and excluding studies in the sysematic review)*

• Analytic framework and key questions

• Databases and other information sources used to identify relevant studies*

• Search strategy*

• Study selection process*

• Data extraction process*

• Methods for handling missing information*

• Information to be extracted from included studies*

• Methods to appraise the quality of individual studies*

• Summary measures of effect size (e.g., risk ratio, difference in means)*

• Rationale for pooling (or not pooling) results of included studies

• Methods of synthesizing the evidence (qualitative and meta-analysis*)

• Additional analyses, if done, indicating which were prespecified*

5.1.7

Include a results section. Organize the presentation of results around key questions. Describe the following (repeat for each key question):

• Study selection process*

• List of excluded studies and reasons for their exclusion*

• Appraisal of individual studies’ quality*

• Qualitative synthesis

• Meta-analysis of results, if performed (explain rationale for doing one)*

• Additional analyses, if done, indicating which were prespecified*

• Tables and figures