Table 1 Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system [24] for rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendation
Factor | Description |
|---|---|
Evidence: | |
High quality | Considerable confidence of the estimate of effect. Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimated effect. |
Moderate quality | Confidence that the estimate is close to the truth. Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate effect and may change the estimate. |
Low quality | Limited confidence in the effect. Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate effect and is likely to change the estimate. |
Very low quality | Little confidence in the effect estimate. Any change of effect is uncertain. |
Recommendation: | |
Strong: 'We recommend...' | A strong recommendation indicates that most well informed people will make the same choice |
Weak: 'We suggest...' | A weak recommendation indicates that the majority of well informed people will make the same choice but a substantial minority will not |
Uncertain: 'We cannot recommend...' | No specific recommendation for or against |