Risk of bias requirements
When a study is entered into the HAWC database for use in an assessment, risk of bias metrics can be entered for a metric of bias for each study. Risk of Bias metrics are organized by domain. The following questions are required for evaluation for this assessment.
Requirements by Study Type
| Domain | Metric | Bioassay | Epidemiology | In Vitro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selection1268 | Did selection of study participants result in appropriate comparison groups?2458 | - | ✔ | ✔ |
| Confounding1269 | Did the study design or analysis account for important confounding and modifying variables?2459 | - | ✔ | ✔ |
| Attrition1271 | Were outcome data incomplete due to attrition or exclusion from analysis?2462 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Detection1272 | Can we be confident in the exposure characterization?2463 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Detection1272 | Can we be confident in the outcome assessment?2464 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Selective Reporting1273 | Were all measured outcomes reported?2465 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Other1274 | Were there any other potential threats to internal validity?2466 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Attrition1271
Were outcome data incomplete due to attrition or exclusion from analysis?2462
Attrition rates are required to be similar and uniformly low across groups with respect to withdrawal or exclusion from analysis
Detection1272
Can we be confident in the exposure characterization?2463
Confidence requires valid, reliable, and sensitive methods to measure exposure applied consistently across groups.
Can we be confident in the outcome assessment?2464
Confidence requires valid, reliable, and sensitive methods to assess the outcome and the methods should be applied consistently across groups.
Selective Reporting1273
Were all measured outcomes reported?2465
Other1274
Were there any other potential threats to internal validity?2466
On a project specific basis, additional questions for other potential threats to internal validity can be added and applied to study designs as appropriate.
Examples may include appropriateness of statistical methods, adherence to the study-protocol, etc.
Selection1268
Did selection of study participants result in appropriate comparison groups?2458
Comparison group appropriateness refers to having similar baseline characteristics between the groups aside from the exposures and outcomes under study.
Confounding1269
Did the study design or analysis account for important confounding and modifying variables?2459
Attrition1271
Were outcome data incomplete due to attrition or exclusion from analysis?2462
Attrition rates are required to be similar and uniformly low across groups with respect to withdrawal or exclusion from analysis
Detection1272
Can we be confident in the exposure characterization?2463
Confidence requires valid, reliable, and sensitive methods to measure exposure applied consistently across groups.
Can we be confident in the outcome assessment?2464
Confidence requires valid, reliable, and sensitive methods to assess the outcome and the methods should be applied consistently across groups.
Selective Reporting1273
Were all measured outcomes reported?2465
Other1274
Were there any other potential threats to internal validity?2466
On a project specific basis, additional questions for other potential threats to internal validity can be added and applied to study designs as appropriate.
Examples may include appropriateness of statistical methods, adherence to the study-protocol, etc.
Selection1268
Did selection of study participants result in appropriate comparison groups?2458
Comparison group appropriateness refers to having similar baseline characteristics between the groups aside from the exposures and outcomes under study.
Confounding1269
Did the study design or analysis account for important confounding and modifying variables?2459
Attrition1271
Were outcome data incomplete due to attrition or exclusion from analysis?2462
Attrition rates are required to be similar and uniformly low across groups with respect to withdrawal or exclusion from analysis
Detection1272
Can we be confident in the exposure characterization?2463
Confidence requires valid, reliable, and sensitive methods to measure exposure applied consistently across groups.
Can we be confident in the outcome assessment?2464
Confidence requires valid, reliable, and sensitive methods to assess the outcome and the methods should be applied consistently across groups.
Selective Reporting1273
Were all measured outcomes reported?2465
Other1274
Were there any other potential threats to internal validity?2466
On a project specific basis, additional questions for other potential threats to internal validity can be added and applied to study designs as appropriate.
Examples may include appropriateness of statistical methods, adherence to the study-protocol, etc.