After piloting, the data abstraction instrument was applied to all included studies (MEB).
We will pilot data abstraction procedures and the data abstraction instrument on a random sample of five papers.
Two investigator-physicians reviewed and classified medical records of patients with suspected LD using a standardized data abstraction instrument.
We developed a quality assessment and data abstraction instrument incorporating the EPOC risk of bias criteria [ 4].
The research team developed and pilot tested the data abstraction instrument used for the larger project examining ethical issues in cluster randomised trials.
We developed a data abstraction instrument to record needed data from these selected discharges, piloted at Lady Harding Medical College in New Delhi, and modified according to recommendations made by the sites' principal investigators.
The data abstraction instrument also collected items on year of publication, country of study recruitment, type of cluster being randomised, number and size of clusters randomised, and study design and analysis.
We allocated each indicator to the most appropriate instrument: data abstraction forms for the medical record for patients with CHD and patients at high risk respectively, patient questionnaires for all 3 groups as appropriate, an interview guide for the lead GP, and a questionnaire for practice members.
Data were abstracted into a standard data abstraction form covering general information about the instrument such as the name and source, the study setting (country, type of hospital and population), purpose, the way the instrument is administered to participants, items and scoring of items and subscales.
Data collectors were trained in administration of the surveillance instrument, medical data abstraction, ICD-9 CM coding and Injury scoring systems.
