Table 2 Legend by Table 2: critical appraisal

Study design

+

±

-

Domain

+

±

-

Outcome

+

-

Points

Transparency of methodology

+

Clearly described methodology

-

-

Not clearly described methodology or not reported

-

Characteristics of study population (age, classification of calcaneal fracture, length of follow-up, and associated injuries)

+

Clearly described study population characteristics and inclusion of all characteristics

-

-

Not clearly described study population characteristics or missing description of characteristics

-

Minimal selection bias

+

All eligible patients included in the study population

+5

±

Pre-selected patient groups or subgroups

+3

-

Subjective selection of eligible patients or not reported

−3

Outcome assessment

+

Complete mean crude scores per subdomain in patient group, or crude scores per subdomain

+6

±

Incomplete mean crude scores per subdomain, or mean cumulative scores or EQ-5D index scores

+4

-

No subdivision of the mean total scores in the subdomains or cumulative scores

0

Lost to follow-up

+

<15 %

+4

±

15 to 25 %

+2

-

>25 % or not reported

0

Missing data

+

Description of patient characteristics who are lost to follow-up and how the missing data was handled

+1

-

No description of patient characteristics who are lost to follow-up or how missing data was handled

0

Standardization of the conduction of the questionnaires

+

Standardized

+2

-

Not standardized or not reported

0

Total points

Overall risk of bias

+

Low risk of bias

14 to 18

±

Medium risk of bias

10 to 13

-

High risk of bias

−3 to 9