Appendix Table 4. Jadad Scale Criteria
A numerical score from 0 to 5 is assigned as a rough measure of study design and reporting quality (0 being weakest and 5 being strongest). This number is based on the validated scale developed by Jadad et al. 34
This calculation does not account for all study elements that may be used to assess quality (other aspects of study design and reporting are addressed in tables and text).
A Jadad score is calculated using the 7 items in Appendix Table 5. The first 5 items are indications of good quality, and each counts as 1 point toward an overall quality score. (Give a score of 1 for each yes and 0 for each no. There are no in-between marks.)
The final 2 items indicate poor quality, and a point is subtracted for each if its criteria are met. The range of possible scores is 0 to 5.
Randomization: A method to generate the sequence of randomization will be regarded as appropriate if each study participant was allowed to have the same chance of receiving each intervention and the investigators could not predict which treatment was next. Inappropriate methods of allocation are date of birth, date of admission, hospital numbers, or alternation.
Double-blinding: A study must be regarded as double-blind if the word "double-blind" is used. The method will be regarded as appropriate if it is stated that neither the person doing the assessments nor the study participant could identify the intervention being assessed, or if, in the absence of such a statement, the use of active placebos, identical placebos, or dummies is mentioned.
Withdrawals and dropouts: Participants who were included in the study but did not complete the observation period or who were not included in the analysis must be described. The number and the reasons for withdrawal in each group must be stated. If there were no withdrawals, it should be stated in the article. If there is no statement on withdrawals, this item must be given 0 points.
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Appendix Table 5. Jadad Score Calculation
| Item |
Score |
| Was the study described as randomized (this includes such words as "randomly", "random", and "randomization")? |
0/1 |
| Was the method used to generate the sequence of randomization described and was it appropriate (e.g., table of random numbers, computer-generated)? |
0/1 |
| Was the study described as double-blind? |
0/1 |
| Was the method of double-blinding described and was it appropriate (e.g., identical placebo, active placebo, dummy)? |
0/1 |
| Was there a description of withdrawals and dropouts? |
0/1 |
| Deduct 1 point if the method used to generate the sequence of randomization was described but was inappropriate (e.g., patients were allocated alternately or according to date of birth or hospital number). |
0/-1 |
| Deduct 1 point if the study was described as double-blind but the method of blinding was inappropriate (e.g., comparison of tablet vs. injection with no double dummy). |
0/-1 |
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