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Table 1 Study validity criteria

From: Effectiveness of mycofiltration for removal of contaminants from water: a systematic review protocol

Criterion

Checklist question

Low validity

Medium validity

High validity

Study design

Was there a sufficient number of replicates per experiment?

Less than three replicates

Three replicates

More than three replicates

Risk of confounding

Are confounding variables (temperature, seasons, pH of sample, pre-treatment of mycofilter) accounted for?

Confounders present and/ or not accounted for

At least two confounders accounted for

All confounders adequately accounted for

Risk of misclassification bias

Is the intervention clearly defined (i.e., fungal species used)?

No clear definition

Clear definition

Clear definition

Risk of performance bias

Is there a clear link between hypothesis and measured outcomes?

No link between hypothesis and measured outcomes

Clear link between some hypothesis and measured outcomes

Clear link between hypothesis and measured outcomes

Risk of reporting bias

Is the reported effect estimate based on selected measurements of the outcome?

Is there clarity of measured outcomes before vs after intervention (i.e. no missing data)?

Effect estimate is based on some of the measured outcomes (subgroup of < 50% of all measured outcomes)

Measured outcomes before vs after, not adequately stated

Effect estimate is based on some of the measured outcomes (subgroup of 50% of all measured outcomes)

Measured outcomes before vs after, clear enough

Effect estimate is based on all of the measured outcomes

Measured outcomes before vs after, clearly and adequately stated

Risk of analysis bias

Is there sufficient description of statistical analysis and results?

No clear/ appropriate description of statistical analysis and results

Clear enough description of statistical analysis and results

Clear and appropriate description of statistical analysis and results

  1. This table should appear in “Study validity assessment” section