During the standardization process, the trainee examiners were encouraged to ask questions regarding assessment criteria while conducting the study protocols.
This paper reports on a second systematic review conducted using the study protocol of the original 2006 review.
AD conceived the study, developed the study protocol, conducted the study search, selected studies, abstracted data, analyzed data, and wrote and revised the manuscript.
YBL designed the study protocol and conducted the study as a supervisor.
Prior to the study conduct, the study protocol, case report forms, written explanation to patients and informed consent form as well as the conduct of the study were reviewed and approved by the institutional review boards of the respective study sites.
We defined six research questions and conducted the study according to a protocol that included planning, and execution.
MV designed the protocol, conducted the study and drafted the manuscript.
The study was designed, managed, and analyzed by all the authors who reviewed the study data, guaranteed the reliability of the data, conducted the study in accordance with the protocol followed, and approved the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Both authors contributed to the protocol proposal, conducted the study and wrote the final version.
This study was conducted retrospectively and the study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of a university hospital (figure 1).
