Data extraction methods statements describe appraisal methods during data abstraction and the methods used to integrate or summarise the data.
In accordance with Needleman [ 33], a protocol was developed and it included all aspects of the review methods: inclusion criteria for studies, search strategy, screening methods, data abstraction, quality assessment by two independent reviewers and data synthesis.
Methods data abstraction examined pretesting analysis, implant selection, and testing conditions.
First, the research team allocated 106 validated quality indicators to one of the three target populations (established CVD, at high risk, at low risk) and to different data-collection methods (data abstraction from the medical records, a patient survey, an interview with lead practice GP/a practice survey).
We used a sensitive method for data abstraction from medical records.
Data were obtained through two different methods: 1) data abstraction from medical records, and 2) patient interviews.
The algorithm had lower sensitivity (0.50 compared with 0.96) but much higher specificity (0.99 compared with 0.34) than a data abstraction approach using search term methods for pharyngitis as reported by Benin et al. 29 The current study's results are consistent with the aim of minimising the occurrence of false positives.
In our regression model we did not control for the recommendation of medical therapy because the timing of medication administration could not be determined from our methods of data abstraction, nor could we account for confounding by treatment indication given the study's nonrandomized nature.
On the other hand, important abstract elements of the review's methods (validity assessment, data abstraction, and data synthesis details) and results (mainly characteristics of included studies) were inadequately reported.
The latter, the problem of very dense display of data in the context of intensive cares units while monitoring patients with severe brain injury has been addressed in [55] including temporal data abstraction, principal component analysis, and clustering methods.
